This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-49678770
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Heathrow drone protest: Five arrested over planned disruption | Heathrow drone protest: Five arrested over planned disruption |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| 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 Highgate on Thursday. | |
| The group said it had up to 70 more pilots available to fly drones and would "carry on exactly as planned". | |
| The Met said three men and two women, aged between their 20s and 50s, were held on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a public nuisance in relation to operations at Heathrow Airport. | The Met said three men and two women, aged between their 20s and 50s, were held on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a public nuisance in relation to operations at Heathrow Airport. |
| Laurence Taylor, deputy assistant commissioner, said: "We believe these arrests to be a proportionate response to preventing criminal activity that could significantly impact on a major piece of national infrastructure. | Laurence Taylor, deputy assistant commissioner, said: "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." |
| A spokesman for Heathrow Pause said it would "definitely be going ahead" with the planned protest. | A spokesman for Heathrow Pause said it would "definitely be going ahead" with the planned protest. |
| In a tweet the group said it would "not be silenced", adding: "We are parents protecting our children." | In a tweet the group said it would "not be silenced", adding: "We are parents protecting our children." |
| A separate post said: "The action will carry on exactly as planned, peacefully and non-violently, regardless of today's events. | A separate post said: "The action will carry on exactly as planned, peacefully and non-violently, regardless of today's events. |
| "We have contingency measures in place." | "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". |
| However, Dr Gail Bradbrook, another co-founder or Extinction Rebellion, said: "As we continue to breech ecological tipping points I believe we will look back on these times and wonder why more people weren't willing to take actions to peacefully close down climate wrecking infrastructure. " | However, Dr Gail Bradbrook, another co-founder or Extinction Rebellion, said: "As we continue to breech ecological tipping points I believe we will look back on these times and wonder why more people weren't willing to take actions to peacefully close down climate wrecking infrastructure. " |