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VW
admitted faking diesel emissions tests in 2015, triggering
political and consumer pressure which has seen diesel cars sales
slump in major markets and politicians around the world announce
plans to ban the sale of conventional vehicles.
Greenpeace said its volunteers had used kayaks and boats to
board the ship in the Thames Estuary in a bid to stop the vessel
unloading at the southeastern port of Sheerness in Kent.
Others broke into a vehicle park at Sheerness where they were
sticking labels on engines and attempting to immobilize cars by
taking the keys, the environmental pressure group said.
Kent police said officers were at the scene.
Britain aims to ban the sale of diesel vehicles from 2040 as
part of plans to improve air quality but activists said the
measures needed to be implemented now.
"Diesel cars are toxic – so we’re here to block VW imports on
behalf of all of the children who are the most acutely affected
by the health impacts," said 38-year old Janet Barker, who took
part in the protest, in a statement.
“The government says we need to wait another 23 years for dirty
diesels to be banned. We can’t wait that long," she added.
Volkswagen did not offer an immediate comment when contacted by
Reuters.
(Editing by Stephen Addison)
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