Climate activists have launched a demonstration at the Glasgow offices of a shipping company to demand an end to gas shipping they say is fueling the invasion of Ukraine.
Extinction Rebellion campaigners and members of other groups locked themselves to bikes outside Seapeak's Glasgow HQ, preventing anyone from accessing the property.
The group claim that the company's Glasgow offices are coordinating gas tankers across the world, including in the Russian Arctic, though this has not been verified.
Blue and yellow smoke flares, representing the colours of the Ukrainian flag, have been set-off while one activist has also chained themselves to a gas canister.
Other members of the group are displaying banners reading "Stop Shipping War" and "Make Renewables Not War".
The blockade is responding to an open letter from Extinction Rebellion Ukraine, which called Russian coal, oil and gas an "existential threat both for world peace and for the climate".
Stuart Bretherton, 23, a support worker added: "In many of the escalating crises we are witnessing - from war, to climate breakdown, to cost of living rises - the fossil fuel industry sits at the center, so it’s clear we need a just transition to renewable energy for the sake of peace, democracy and the planet."
Seapeak has ownership interests in 74 vessels and describes itself as “a world leader, with one of the largest fleets of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessels”.
A Seapeak spokesman said: “Seapeak are owners/operators of a Fleet of LNG vessels trading worldwide.
“We can confirm that Seapeak, and the vessels in our fleet, are not subject to any of the sanctions imposed by the UK, USA or EU, nor are our operations directly impacted by any sanctions. We continue to monitor regulations closely.
“As employers of multi-national seafarers, we have provided full support to all impacted persons, including our Ukrainian colleagues.”
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Officers are currently engaging with a small group who are carrying out a protest in Elliot Street, Glasgow.
“Police Scotland is a rights-based organisation that puts our values of integrity, fairness, respect and a commitment to upholding human rights at the heart of everything we do.
“This means that we will protect the rights of the people who wish to peacefully protest or counter-protest, balanced against the rights of the wider community.”
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