ACTIVISTS sabotaged utilities infrastructure at the offices of major fossil fuel investors today, declaring the start of “disruption like never before” against fossil fuel finance.
Shut The System cut cables and superglued electrical service cabinets at JPMorganChase and Allianz in London, demanding they stop financing the climate emergency and genocide in Gaza.
At Barclaycard’s Northampton headquarters, activists cut the 5G communications mast serving the building.
The underground climate campaign said the action marked the launch of a period of sustained sabotage against financial institutions deemed “key culprits” in the climate crisis, running until the end of September.
It urged civilians to join a “Summer of Sabotage” by destroying the property and operating systems of institutions providing “critical support to deadly industries globally.”
JPMorgan is the world’s largest fossil fuel investor, while Barclays is the biggest in Europe, according to a June report by Reclaim Finance.
And Allianz is the sixth-largest fossil fuel insurer and insures Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms firm supplying the majority of weapons used in Gaza.
A Shut The System statement said: “We have been forced underground by draconian anti-protest laws.
“The British state has recently shown how much they are willing to suppress peaceful protest.
“History shows direct action and sabotage are highly effective so we cannot stop while the climate emergency wages on and we see the most hopeful path forward is to operate beyond the state’s reach.”
The group has pledged to escalate its actions in October if demands are ignored.
Earlier this year, it cut fibre optic cables at insurance firms in Leeds and Birmingham, disrupted internet access, and carried out nationwide graffiti actions at Barclays branches during its annual general meeting.
JPMorgan, Allianz and Barclays were approached for comment.