VIDEO: Greenpeace protesters evade police in Kingsnorth 'hijacking'

Greenpeace activists defied police today as they remained camped on a coal freighter they boarded last night.

Nine protesters in inflatable speedboats pulled alongside the ship on the River Medway and attached climbing ladders to scale the 15-metre hull.

They are attempting to prevent it unloading its cargo at the Kingsnorth power plant in Kent.

Six protesters were arrested and are being held at Medway police station. But four others remain up the foremast this afternoon.

Up to 20 officers from Kent Police are on board and have threatened to physically bring them
down after negotiations failed.

Speaking to the Standard from the top of the 10-metre foremast, Sarah Shoraka said: "We have been up here for more than 12 hours now and have
no plans to leave any time soon.

"Officers have been shouting at us from the deck threatening they are coming back with specialist climbing equipment to bring us down. But I can't see how they can do that as it would be too dangerous.

"We have food and water to last us several days and we also have excellent climbing equipment so we are very secure and plan to stay up here as long as possible."

She added: "So far we have achieved our goal and none of the coal has been unloaded at the power plant."

Exclusive video footage of 'hijacking'

She said that three Greenpeace activists had also jumped into the river in front of the ship while it was still moving to prevent it docking.

Miss Shoraka, 31, from Stamford Hill, said they were protesting against plans by E.ON to build a coal-fired power plant at Kingsnorth.

She said: "Scientists are telling us we can't beat climate change if we keep burning coal, and yet [Climate Minister] Ed Miliband's new policies would still allow E.ON to build the dirtiest new power station in Britain for 30 years.

"The experts say we have the technologies we need to slash emissions... it just needs the politicians to give them the green light."

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Beautridge of Kent Police said: "We are dealing with a difficult and potentially dangerous situation. We are monitoring the protesters' actions from a safe distance in order to minimise the risk."

The six arrested are being held over conspiring to commit criminal damage and having an unauthorised presence on a ship.