Eco-zealots vandalise cars and leave message on street in Edinburgh

by · Mail Online

Militant eco-warriors have vandalised 20 cars on one of the most upmarket streets in the Scottish capital.

Tyre Extinguishers, who say they wish to 'make it impossible to own an SUV in the world's urban areas', spray-painted graffiti on the vehicles on Edinburgh's Moray Place.

Phrases included: 'These cars kill Valencians' – a reference to the Spanish province in which 217 died last month due to extensive flooding that was partly blamed on climate change.

A local woman, 43, who wished to be anonymous, told BBC Scotland her 17-year-old Range Rover had been 'targeted' and was now permanently damaged. 

The mother-of-two, who uses her car to drive her therapy dog around hospitals, said: 'These guys are not activists, this is vandalism. 

'They are vandalising people's property. They don't know why I have this vehicle.'

The activists posted on social media: 'Edinburgh TX out again on a frosty night! SUVs decorated with climate and SUV-crash victims.'

Police Scotland are investigating.

Militant eco-warriors have vandalised 20 cars in Edinburgh with spray paint. Phrases written on vehicles included: 'These cars kill Valencians' – a reference to the Spanish province in which 217 died last month due to extensive flooding that was partly blamed on climate change
Tyre Extinguishers, who say they wish to 'make it impossible to own an SUV in the world's urban areas', spray-painted graffiti on the vehicles on Edinburgh's Moray Place
A local woman, 43, who wished to be anonymous, told BBC Scotland her 17-year-old Range Rover had been 'targeted' and was now permanently damaged

It comes as two people were charged with damaging an ancient monument after a Just Stop Oil orange paint protest at Stonehenge just before the summer solstice.

Rajan Naidu, 73, and Niamh Lynch, 22, have been charged with destroying or damaging an ancient protected monument after orange paint powder was thrown at Stonehenge during a JSO stunt in June, Wiltshire Police said.

They ran up to the stone circle at around 12pm and released clouds of paint against several of the huge stones just 24 hours before thousands flocked to the landmark to celebrate summer solstice.

Ms Lynch, a student at the University of Oxford, is a youth representative at the British Trust for Ornithology - the study of birds - and an officer at Oxford University's Nature Conservation Society.

She was also previously the events team leader at Oxford Climate Society and is a keen cricketer.

Sophie Stevens, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Wessex, said: 'The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Wiltshire Police to charge Naidu Rajan and Niamh Lynch with offences related to damage caused to the protected monument Stonehenge on 19 June 2024.