Doctors and anti-pollution activists blockaded the UK headquarters of Volkswagen on Monday morning (20 August) as part of a campaign to highlight the country's air pollution crisis.
The Guardian reported "hundreds" of staff were prevented from getting into the head office in Milton Keynes by doctors and other medics who, with Greenpeace activists, set up "sick bays" at entrances to highlight the damage VW diesel vehicles are doing to people's health.
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Aarash Saleh, a doctor in respiratory medicine who was at the protest, said: "Diesel pollution is causing horrendous suffering across the UK and storing up a lifetime of troubled health for our kids. If you could see it, diesel would be banned tomorrow."
Mel Evans, a clean air campaigner for the environmental group, told the paper: "As the UK's biggest seller of diesel cars, Volkswagen is complicit in an air pollution crisis that's filling up emergency departments and GP surgeries.
"Volkswagen sold us a lie about diesel being clean. Its diesel addiction is seriously harming people's health."
He said the company had repeatedly refused to meet Greenpeace to discuss the issue so campaigners had "brought the truth about diesel to its doorstep".
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By GlobalDataLast year Greenpeace seized a cargo ship heading to the UK that was packed with VW cars, the Guardian said.
A VW spokesman told the paper the company was aware of the protest and that the matter was being handled by police. He added that the company had "launched the most comprehensive electrification initiative in the automotive industry, Roadmap E" and would bring 80 new electric vehicle models to its range by 2025.
"Roadmap E brings a EUR20bn investment to electric vehicle technology with the goal of 25% of Volkswagen Group vehicle production comprising electrified vehicles by 2025 and 50% by 2030," he added.
Group brand Skoda has just launched an updated Fabia line with an all-petrol engine choice.
