Extinction Rebellion protestors

• TERRORISM is a tactic (How climate activists became ‘terrorists’, Forum, January 17).

It relates to creating high anxiety or terror by threatening an event – not necessarily violent – that causes damage, physical or emotional.

Some of the climate protesters certainly caused high anxiety or terror when they threatened to block streets by demonstrating.

The natural consequence of that was to block ambulances carrying seriously ill people; blocking those who urgently needed treatment from receiving it, for example.

The fact that some of these people were social workers or teachers has no relevance at all.

Speaking in “strong or emotive terms about environmental issues like climate change”, I can assure Matt Foot, is perfectly legal. If they threaten to create terror that is a different matter.

KEITH NICKOL
Charing Cross Road, WC2