John Sauven, Executive Director Greenpeace UK, and supporters are outside Edinburgh's Court of Session on the first day of the trial. BP’s rig operator, Transocean asks Scottish courts to jail Greenpeace’s boss and punish the campaigning group with huge fines.
Activists blocked a BP rig from drilling new oil wells in the North Sea for 12 days in June last year. Transocean secured an interim interdict, with BP’s consent, which Greenpeace is accused of breaching by continuing its protest.