Extinction Rebellion mobs attack UK newspaper presses, delaying publication

The radical group halted the presses by blocking access to printing facilities owned by Australian media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Papers were late to arrive on shelves after printing sites were "disrupted," police say.

The ruckus led to the arrests of 30 protestors, as more than 100 Extinction Rebellion activists closed off roads with bamboo structures and various automobiles on Friday night. The Independent says that over 100 protestors were present.

Protestors remained on site as of Saturday morning, with Hertfordshire Police and Merseyside Police also present. More arrests are anticipated.

Among the papers delayed were The Sun, The Scottish Sun, The Times, Daily Mail, Financial Times, and The Daily Telegraph.

"Coverage in many of the newspapers printed here is polluting national debate on climate change, immigration policy, the rights and treatment of minority groups, and on dozens of other issues," a statement from Extinction Rebellion said.

A spokesperson for the newsprinters said: "Overnight print workers, delivery drivers, wholesale workers and retail newsagents have faced delays and financial penalty. This is a matter for the police and the Home Office," also calling it "an attack on the free press."

The Sun tweeted out a call to action along with a statement, encouraging Britons to "#BuyAPaper"

Tory Home Secretary Priti Patel also called it an "attack on [the] free press."

"This morning people across the country will be prevented from reading their newspaper because of the actions of Extinction Rebellion... This attack on our free press, society and democracy is completely unacceptable," said Patel.

Testing the public's patience

Many became aware of Extinction Rebellion's antics towards the tail-end of Summer 2019. The group used "civil disobedience" to have their message heard, which essentially boiled down to making people late for things.

One viral moment involving Extinction Rebellion was the blockage of the London Tube, wherein activists climbed on top of train cars to stop them from moving.

Citizens trying to make their way to work can then be seen hauling the radical environmentalists off from the top of train cars.

Protestors climbed the train cars in order to delay transportation in the United Kingdom's busy metropolitan capital. When on top of the subway protestors held banners that read: "Business as usual=death."

During the spectacle, some Londoners grew tired of the interruption and grabbed the protestors by the ankles to force them off of the subways so that they could resume their routes.

After one of the protestors is brought down to the platform, several angry commuters proceed to strike or kick at the individual as they move through the crowd.