Kuupik Kleist, Greenland's premier, slammed Greenpeace activists for “an illegal attack on Greenland’s constitutional rights” after four protesters scaled the sides of Cairn Energy’s rig on Aug. 31 and set up housekeeping there.

Police last night vowed to arrest environmental campaigners who have halted drilling on a Scottish oil rig off the coast of Greenland, the Herald Scotland reports.

At the same time, Kuupik Kleist, Greenland's premier, slammed Greenpeace activists for “an illegal attack on Greenland’s constitutional rights” after four protesters scaled the sides of Cairn Energy’s rig and secured themselves in makeshift tents.

Activists used inflatable speedboats to evade Danish navy units and access the rig.

Morten Nielsen, the deputy head of Greenland’s police, described the stunt as “a clear violation of the law” and promised to pursue the activists.

The campaigners said they had enough food and water to hold on for several days.

Greenpeace said it hoped to disrupt drilling until more wintery weather set in, bringing hazardous conditions in an area known to some as “iceberg alley”.

Kleist criticized the protesters for the impact they would have on Greenland's fragile economy. 

“The Greenland Government regards the Greenpeace action as being a very grave and illegal attack on Greenland’s constitutional rights,” he said. “It is highly disturbing that Greenpeace, in its chase for media attention, breaks the safety regulations put in place to protect people and the environment.”

He added that the government “remains confident that the police and the executive authorities will continue to ensure that the legal business activities can continue undisturbed.”