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| Heathrow drone protest: Five arrested over planned disruption | Heathrow drone protest: Five arrested over planned disruption |
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| Five environmental activists have been arrested over plans to fly drones near Heathrow Airport on Friday. | Five environmental activists have been arrested over plans to fly drones near Heathrow Airport on Friday. |
| Climate change activist group Heathrow Pause said it aims to use devices within the no-fly zone as part of efforts to halt the airport's planned expansion. | Climate change activist group Heathrow Pause said it aims to use devices within the no-fly zone as part of efforts to halt the airport's planned expansion. |
| Police made the arrests in Bethnal Green and and Highgate on Thursday. | Police made the arrests in Bethnal Green and and Highgate on Thursday. |
| The group said it had up to 70 more pilots available to fly drones and will "carry on exactly as planned". | |
| The activists were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a public nuisance. | The activists were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a public nuisance. |
| Laurence Taylor, the Metropolitan Police's deputy assistant commissioner, said: "Earlier today, three men and two women aged between their 20's and 50's were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a public nuisance in relation to operations at Heathrow Airport on Friday, 13 September. | Laurence Taylor, the Metropolitan Police's deputy assistant commissioner, said: "Earlier today, three men and two women aged between their 20's and 50's were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a public nuisance in relation to operations at Heathrow Airport on Friday, 13 September. |
| "We believe these arrests to be a proportionate response to preventing criminal activity that could significantly impact on a major piece of national infrastructure. | "We believe these arrests to be a proportionate response to preventing criminal activity that could significantly impact on a major piece of national infrastructure. |
| "We remain fully prepared for the planned protest tomorrow, and will work quickly to identify criminal activity and arrest anyone committing offences." | "We remain fully prepared for the planned protest tomorrow, and will work quickly to identify criminal activity and arrest anyone committing offences." |
| Heathrow Pause said in a tweet it would "not be silenced", adding: "We are parents protecting our children." | Heathrow Pause said in a tweet it would "not be silenced", adding: "We are parents protecting our children." |
| In a separate post, it said: "The action will carry on exactly as planned, peacefully and non-violently, regardless of today's events. | |
| "We have contingency measures in place." | |
| Police officers said on Wednesday they were "confident" they would be able to prevent any disruption caused by protesters who plan to fly drones near Heathrow Airport on Friday. | Police officers said on Wednesday they were "confident" they would be able to prevent any disruption caused by protesters who plan to fly drones near Heathrow Airport on Friday. |
| Scotland Yard previously warned activists could face possible life sentences if they fly drones around the airport in a bid to ground flights. | Scotland Yard previously warned activists could face possible life sentences if they fly drones around the airport in a bid to ground flights. |
| A spokeswoman for Heathrow previously said airport chiefs "agree with the need to act on climate change" but "committing criminal offences and disrupting passengers is counter-productive". | A spokeswoman for Heathrow previously said airport chiefs "agree with the need to act on climate change" but "committing criminal offences and disrupting passengers is counter-productive". |