Rishi Sunak home invasion ‘will send reverberations’ around terror community as security expert blasts ‘embarrassing’ defence
Will Geddes has issued a warning after Rishi Sunak's mansion was used as a protest location
PA / GB NEWS
Terror groups will be on high alert after witnessing Greenpeace activists stage a protest on the roof of Rishi Sunak’s mansion, according to a security expert.
The group of eco-zealots were able to drape the Prime Minister’s grade II-listed Manor House in North Yorkshire with an oil-black fabric after appearing to gain access to the property with relative ease.
Police had been “managing the situation” after being alerted to the activists climbing the family home in Kirby Sigston, near Northallerton at about 8am.
Security expert Will Geddes has warned about what the worldwide possible ramifications may consist of as a result.
Speaking on GB News, he described the matter as an “embarrassing” affair for Rishi Sunak’s security team.
“In this instance it’s a group of eco-zealots unfurling a black blanket to demonstrate their point”, he said.
“But what’s to say there wouldn’t be a lone actor with an improvised explosive device that they’ve created putting that on the property, whether that be on a delayed timer that could be remotely triggered or not, that would send huge reverberations.
“Obviously it would send huge reverberations to the terrorist community, but also to the international community at how poorly he seems to be at this instant.”
North Yorkshire Police said two men and two women had been arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage and public nuisance.
A fifth man was later arrested on suspicion of causing public nuisance.
Rishi Sunak's home was used by protesters
PAAssistant Chief Constable Elliot Foskett said: “There was no threat to the wider public throughout this incident which has now been brought to a safe conclusion.”
But a former deputy chief constable from the force said it was a “major breach of security”, as he called for an “investigation into how this has been allowed to happen”.
The protesters were arrested after staging their opposition to Rishi Sunak’s new fossil fuel drilling “frenzy”.
The Prime Minister announced plans to “max out” the UK’s oil and gas reserves by granting more than 100 new licences for extraction in the North Sea.
He also suggested that the UK’s largest untapped oil field, Rosebank, to the west of Shetland, could be approved despite fierce opposition from environmental campaigners.
Some Conservatives have joined campaigners by warning against the move, suggesting it could hinder efforts to reach net-zero by 2050.
The eco-activist unfurled the black fabric on Sunak’s roof and demanded “no new oil”, while urging the PM to “be a climate leader, not a climate arsonist”.
Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Targeting someone’s home like this is disgraceful and totally unacceptable.
“This is against the law and rightly the police are taking enforcement action.
“The Prime Minister’s home and family should never be targeted in this way.”
Government minister Alex Burghart called the activists “plonkers”.