Environmental protestors have defended their actions after a number of vehicles, including an electric car, had their tyres let down in a protest against SUVs.
A Tesla owner in Clifton, Bristol, said he saw the tyres of his electric vehicle were deflated when he left the house to walk his dog last week.
He saw a leaflet, from a protest group calling themselves the Tyre Extinguishers, and said that other large cars along his street had their tyres let down.
The Tyre Extinguishers have a large presence on social media with thousands of followers, adding that they want to make it difficult to own an SUV in the world’s urban areas.
One owner said it was ‘ironic’ that the tyres of his EV had been let down
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Disruptive events of activists targeting tyres has been seen around the world, with the group having separate groups in Scotland, Austria, France and Italy.
The owner of the Tesla said there was “something comical” about the situation, acknowledging the irony of having the tyres of his electric vehicle let down, the BBC reported.
One of the leaflets told drivers that “your gas guzzler kills” in addition to an image of an SUV surrounded by a red, banned sign.
It stated: “We have deflated one or more of your tyres. We did this because driving around in your SUV vehicle has huge consequences.
“SUVs are the second-largest cause of the rise in CO2 emissions over the past decade, more than the aviation industry.
“SUVs cause more air pollution in your neighbourhood than smaller cars. SUVs are also more likely to kill people in collisions.”
Many questioned the motives of the environmental group for targeting electric vehicles when petrol and diesel cars have a massive impact on carbon emissions.
Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Tyre Extinguishers clarified their actions, saying: “Electric cars are fair game.
“We can’t electrify our way out of the climate crisis. The danger to other road users still stands, as does air pollution (PM 2.5 pollution is still produced from tyres/brake pads).
“A child killed by an SUV doesn’t care if it’s electric or petrol.”
Others on social media highlighted how a standard Tesla Model X weighs 2.4 tonnes and is one of the heavier cars available on the market.
Avon and Somerset Police said they received four reports that incidents relating to car tyres had taken place overnight from Thursday to Friday.
The force said they believe the incidents are related to a “national environmental protest group”.
A recent protest from the group saw a number of climate activists dressed as Santa Claus “disarm” 222 SUVs across Berlin, as well as leaving lentils by the vehicles.
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The Tyre Extinguishers said they want to make it difficult for people to own an SUV
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A “night of action” took place in October which saw protestors target SUVs in more than 20 locations around the world, with Latvia becoming the 20th country with a Tyre Extinguishers-affiliated group.
