Mob makes a second attack on TNT's depot
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• A mob of more than 200 people hurling paint bombs and brandishing lumps of concrete, pieces of wood and hammers launched a surprise attack on the TNT depot at Byfleet in Surrey last week causing over £8,000 worth of damage to lorries and private cars.
Two TNT workers were injured in the assault. A lorry driver suffered extensive facial injuries and broken ribs whilst another employee, in his car on his way home, received minor injuries.
Depot manager David Jones said the attack seemed to have been well organised. "It happened out of the blue," he said, "and was all over in fifteen minutes. The aim was obviously to cause as much damage and injury in as short time as possible."
TNT's Byfleet depot on the Brooklands industrial estate is a sophisticated securityprotected site. The mob managed to disable the gatehouse on the way into the depot and remove the radio communication system.
By the time the police arrived on the scene soon after the alarm was raised most of the crowd had dispersed.
Eight arrests have been made so far and a police spokesman said that some are known members of Sogat '82.
Sogat '82 and the NGA have both undertaken in the High Court to instruct their members not to attack TNT depots or their employees (CM August 16). This is an interim agreement until the main October hearing when INT applies for an injunction to pre vent attacks on depots.
TNT's depot at Byfleet has experienced trouble before. "There have been large demonstrations in the past." Jones continued, but no violent, vicious assault like this was. The compound is as secure as it can be but it won't stop determined thugs like these."
Despite working under siege conditions at times the TNT road freight operation in Britain has been acclaimed by group chairman Sir Peter Abeles as one of the company's "star performers".
The Sydney-based international transport group has announced a 40% increase in net profits for the year ended June 30 and Britain was highlighted as one of the countries showing strong growth.