6 protesting Shell's Arctic oil drilling arrested in Seattle, including 'granny' activists



SEATTLE (AP) —An activist protesting Shell's plans to drill for oil in the Arctic Ocean were arrested Tuesday for trespassing at a Port of Seattle Commission meeting.

Port spokesman Peter McGraw says the meeting was adjourned Tuesday afternoon when protesters began disrupting it, and one person was arrested for trespassing.

Earlier in the day, police arrested five activists who had chained themselves together in rocking chairs and blocked train tracks outside the seaport terminal where Royal Dutch Shell's drill rig is parked.

Five people protesting Royal Dutch Shell's plans to drill for oil in the Arctic Ocean have been arrested after blocking entrances to the Seattle port where its oil rig is parked.

Seattle police arrested five members of a group called the Seattle Raging Grannies who had chained themselves together in rocking chairs.

Officers say they were arrested for blocking train tracks outside Terminal 5.

The activists said they hoped to disrupt work at the port and the 400-foot long oil rig, docked in Seattle for the summer before it moves into the arctic for exploratory drilling.

Police officers said they were arrested for blocking train tracks outside Terminal 5. The group was taken to the West Seattle precinct.

Meanwhile, other protesters took to their telephones to engage in an "electronic blockade" of local businesses supporting the Shell oil company.

Businesses targeted included the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 19, Jones Stevedoring, Carlile Trucking, Incident Catering Services and Foss Maritime Co.

Tuesday marks five straight days of protests at the port.