Climate activists vandalise 20 more SUV’s in Edinburgh in second wave of attacks

16 cars were damaged earlier in November, with the group saying there were ‘more planned’


Climate activist group Tyre Extinguishers have claimed responsibility for defacing 20 SUV’s in Edinburgh city centre.

The protest comes as the second wave, after 16 cars were targeted earlier this month.

Cars were spray painted with slogans like “These Cars Kill Kids” and “These Cars Kill Valencians”, as well as “mock surveys” asking whether or not SUV’s should be banned with tick boxes next to them.

The Tyre Extinguishers announced on X: “Edinburgh TX out again on a frosty night! SUVs decorated with climate and SUV crash victims.”.

One member said: “The people who drive these Chelsea tractors have assumed it as their right to dominate our streets and poison our planet.”.

In its X bio, the group says: “We are The Tyre Extinguishers. We will make it impossible to own an SUV in the world’s urban areas. For climate, health, public safety.”.

Since 2022, hundreds of vehicles have been targeted by the group across the city, including 50 cars having their tyres deflate in February, and 16 spray painted and damaged earlier in November as a protest over severe flooding in Spain which the BBC reported may have been exacerbated by global warming. The Tyre Extinguishers told The Edinburgh Tab that they planned to target more SUV’s in the city after their protest earlier this month.

The organisation has members across the world, earlier this week, members of the group targeted 50 SUV’s in Vienna, Austria, while 47 were hit two weeks ago in Lausanne, Switzerland.

According to Edinburgh Evening News, Police Scotland has received several reports of vehicles being vandalised on Moray Place, in the city’s New Town.

In its X post, the group claims: “SUVs are ruining more than just Edinburgh. If SUVs were a country they’d be the world’s fifth most polluting.

“As Valencians, Floridians and Brazilians continue to grapple with the cost of this year’s extreme weather, leaders at #COP29 make only dirty deals and empty promises.

“People are dying. We posted memorials of Izan and Rubén Matias, aged five and three swept out of their father’s arms by Valencian floodwaters.

“Every single two-tonne street tank owner is sending a message they don’t care about the damage they’re causing. Time to hold them to account.”.

They conclude their post saying: “”If our spineless politicians won’t take meaningful action against emitters, then we will.”.

Police Scotland and The Tyre Extinguishers have been approached for comment.