Greenpeace protesters break into nuclear plant

A group of 21 Greenpeace activists broke into a nuclear power station in France today.

They breached security at the Tricastin plant 100 miles north of Marseille and spent around five hours inside projecting slogans on to walls and unfurling banners mocking President Francois Hollande. They accuse him of presiding over a potential catastrophe, arguing that Tricastin is vulnerable to accidents, natural disasters and terrorist attack.

Greenpeace said on its website: “With this action Greenpeace demands that Francois Hollande announces the closure of the Tricastin nuclear plant, which is among the five most dangerous in France.” They claimed that it had cracks in its No 1 reactor vessel.

The activists were all arrested, said a spokesman for EDF which runs the country’s atomic power plants. The interior ministry said the protesters “were not able to access the plant’s sensitive areas, notably the command room”.