Environment activists blockade UK newspaper printing plants

Environmental activists have blockaded two British printing plants, disrupting distribution of several national newspapers on Saturday.

group Extinction Rebellion said it targeted printworks at Broxbourne, rth of London, and Kwsley in rthwest England that are owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.

Dozens of protesters locked mselves to vehicles and bamboo scaffolding to block road outside plants. facilities print Murdoch-owned papers Sun and Times, as well as Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail and Financial Times.

group said it was disrupting newspapers “to expose failure of se corporations to accurately report on climate and ecological emergency, and ir consistent manipulation of truth to suit ir own personal and political ndas.”

Police said y had arrested 13 people by Saturday morning at Broxbourne plant, but delivery trucks had still t been able to leave.

Newsprinters, which operates printing plants, said protest was an “attack on all of free press.” Home Secretary Priti Patel said on Twitter that “this attack on our free press, society and democracy is completely unacceptable.”

Extinction Rebellion has blocked roads and bridges in several British cities since Monday as part of two weeks of civil disobedience to press for stronger action against climate change. Hundreds of people have been arrested.

Last year, more than 1,700 arrests were made during Extinction Rebellion’s 10-day “Autumn Uprising,” which disrupted traffic and business activity in several parts of U.K.