HS2 protesters holed up in a self-dug 100ft network of tunnels outside Euston Station say their underground hideaway is being flooded with “liquid mud”.
At least five activists are resisting eviction from the tunnel underneath Euston Square Gardens, which they claim will be paved over with a temporary taxi rank and sold to developers under plans for the high-speed railway.
On Friday it emerged that veteran environmental campaigner Swampy, who became famous for his protests against road construction in the 1990s, had joined the subterranean sit-in.
In a video issued by HS2 Rebellion, Swampy, real name Daniel Hooper, said: “There was liquid mud coming through the wall last night, the rain stopped and we informed them (bailiffs) of this problem.
“They said they were going to pump the water out, the rain has now stopped and loads more liquid mud is coming down now.”
Mr Hooper added: “This is not safe, there’s not enough room for people to get out quickly from this tunnel.”
He went on to claim water was being pumped into the tunnels to force them out.
An HS2 spokesman has dismissed these claims as “untrue”, saying no water or mud has been pumped into the tunnels.
Protester Larch Maxey, 48, who is also situated in one of the tunnels, said there had been five collapses overnight.
It comes after officials warned that the protesters are at risk of suffocation or drowning.
The Metropolitan Police said two arrests had been made on Friday under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation Act).
Five others were arrested at the scene on Thursday, three for allegedly breaching Covid regulations.
HS2 Protests: January 2021
In a video interview with the Guardian on Friday, Swampy said the tunnel protest could be the “tipping point” for climate protest in the UK.
“It’s been many years since I’ve been down a tunnel. I never thought I’d do this again but this cause is just too important,” he said. “HS2 is truly monstrous. Parliament has declared a climate and ecological emergency but the government goes ahead with a carbon intensive mega-project.”
Earlier this week the activists complained of the “torture of sleep deprivation” as bailiffs used heavy machinery to try and grab protestors from trees and to make new tunnels to dig them out.
Two activists up a tree came down voluntarily this morning after fearing they would contract hypothermia after being rained on overnight. Another caused havoc at Euston Station after they climbed on the transport hub’s roof using a ladder.
