Environmental Activists Block Europe's Largest Port Today, UK Police Arrest 17 Protesters

Dozens of environmental activists surrounded the port of Dover in southeast England today,  Friday.

The Independent,  a UK daily newspaper confirmed that two groups of protesters affiliated with "Insulate Britain", a British environment organization including a total of about 40 people, staged a sit-in on the M25 in Kent, which led to the suspension of movement on the two main tracks supporting the port of Dover.

A spokesperson for the organization, which is calling on the government to retrofit homes across the country to reduce emissions into the air, stressed that today's campaign aims to underscore that "fuel poverty is killing people in Dover and other parts of the UK".

The statement of the organization added that economic reform was needed in order to carry out reforms with the necessary speed and scope.

Kent police announced the arrest of 17 people in connection with the incident, including the Dover Port Authority that it is still open, warning at the same time of possible disruptions in transport operations to it by road due to the demonstration.

And the British judiciary has previously threatened to impose prison terms on activists from Insulate Britain if they return to the M25 after they organized five demonstrations on this route in the last two weeks.

The Port of Dover is the busiest seaport in Europe, and through it 17 percent of the UK's merchandise trade takes place.

Environmental activists blocking the M25 face possible imprisonment after National Highways was granted an injunction against the protests, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said.

Campaign group Insulate Britain has shut down parts of the M25 five times in just over a week. It has been reported that many of those taking part in the demonstrations have been arrested and released several times.