Activists claim that as an act of "retaliation" for the tragic crash that resulted in the death of two young girls and injuries to several others at a primary school in Wimbledon, they have sabotaged numerous vehicles at a Land Rover dealership.
The incident occurred during an end-of-term tea party at The Study Preparatory School, where a motorist crashed, causing the fatalities and injuries to more than a dozen children. The driver, a 46-year-old woman, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving but has since been released on bail. The incident has sparked outrage and concern in the community and led to the activists taking actions against the Land Rover dealership in what they consider a form of protest or retribution.
The Tyre Extinguishers (TX), a direct action group established in 2022, has asserted that it has deflated the tires of thousands of SUVs in various European cities as part of its activism. In response to the school crash that resulted in the death of two young girls and injuries to others, the group has now revealed details of what it calls a "retaliatory" action.
According to their claims, the activists targeted a Land Rover dealership in Exeter, which is approximately 150 miles away from Wimbledon. They assert that they have "destroyed" the tires of around 60 SUVs at the dealership during an operation carried out on Sunday night. The incident marks another step in the group's ongoing campaign aimed at raising awareness and making a statement regarding the issue they are advocating for.
"This act of retaliation is intended as a peaceful and non-violent demonstration to draw attention to the presence of grossly inappropriate private vehicles in our towns and cities," stated the Tyre Extinguishers (TX) on their social media platform.
A spokesperson for Vertu Motors, the company that owns the Jaguar Exeter dealership, responded to the incident with the following statement: "Trespass and damage to private property are not acceptable. The matter is now in the hands of the police."
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed their awareness of the criminal damage that occurred at the Jaguar dealership in Matford, Exeter. They also stated that ongoing investigations are underway to address the situation.
Referring to a US-based study published in September last year, which indicated that SUVs are eight times more likely to cause fatal injuries to children in accidents compared to smaller cars, the Tyre Extinguishers (TX) expressed their heartfelt condolences to the families of the two young girls who tragically lost their lives in the devastating crash. The group also conveyed their hopes for a speedy recovery for the other 15 victims involved in the incident.
The group further stated, "The tragic crash on July 6th has left the community in profound devastation and mourning. TX firmly believes that their actions are a necessary escalation to prevent these vehicles from causing more harm and exacerbating the worsening climate crisis."
An activist emphasized, "We urge our politicians to implement more stringent law enforcement and government policies to curb our car-centric culture, where people are losing their lives daily due to reckless driving."
In November, the decentralized group asserted that it had deflated the tires of approximately 10,000 vehicles within its initial eight months. They also claimed awareness of around 100 autonomous groups globally that are actively taking action against SUVs.
With the goal of making SUVs or 4x4s unfeasible to own in urban areas, the group emphasizes that these vehicles pose significant risks to public health, safety, and the climate. They criticize governments and politicians for their failure to address this danger and argue that individuals must take action to protect themselves.
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