2020-12-08 Huge HS2 security operation removes Swampy from tripod
54 images Created 8 Dec 2020
Denham, UK. 8th December, 2020. A large security operation involving over 140 people and comprising officers from at least three police forces, National Eviction Team (NET) enforcement agents and security guards contracted to HS2 is put in place to facilitate the removal of Dan Hooper, an activist widely known as 'Swampy' in the 1990s, from a bamboo tripod positioned in the river Colne. The climate and roads activist had occupied the tripod the previous day in order to delay the building of a bridge across the river and into Denham Country Park as part of pylon relocation works for the controversial HS2 high-speed rail link. The operation lasted until early afternoon, with several attempts made using a cherry picker by the NET climbing team before the activist was removed, handed to Hampshire Police officers and then arrested by Thames Valley Police officers. At least one other activist was arrested, on suspicion of attempted assault.
