London - British Petroleum (BP) entered into a legal battle with the environmental group Greenpeace yesterday, claiming damages over a week-long occupation of a mobile oil platform off western Scotland.
The ecologists, who are waging a high-profile campaign to halt exploration of new oil fields in British Atlantic ocean waters, said their activities in Britain could be at risk if BP wins the court case. Their bank account in Britain has already been frozen, the group said.
The oil company has issued a summons in Edinburgh against Greenpeace and is seeking damages of £1.4 million for losses due to the "unlawful activities" of protesters during their occupation of the Stenna Dee oil installation off the Shetlands Islands.
Greenpeace's British arm, which had an income last year of £6.8 million, said it would be forced to lay off up to 70 staff if the civil action succeeded. - (AFP)