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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Southend Airport runway protesters arrested | Southend Airport runway protesters arrested |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Sixteen climate change activists have been arrested at London Southend Airport. | Sixteen climate change activists have been arrested at London Southend Airport. |
| Members of Plane Stupid and Climate Rush entered the airport at 09:00 BST and were apprehended by officers. | Members of Plane Stupid and Climate Rush entered the airport at 09:00 BST and were apprehended by officers. |
| In a press release, the groups had said they were planning to put solar panels on the runway and do a dance routine dressed as pilots and cabin crew. | In a press release, the groups had said they were planning to put solar panels on the runway and do a dance routine dressed as pilots and cabin crew. |
| The airport wants to extend its runway by 300m (984ft) to allow larger passenger aircraft to be used. | The airport wants to extend its runway by 300m (984ft) to allow larger passenger aircraft to be used. |
| The Stobart Group, which owns the airport, aims to have two million passengers a year passing through its terminal by 2020. | The Stobart Group, which owns the airport, aims to have two million passengers a year passing through its terminal by 2020. |
| 'Not needed' | 'Not needed' |
| Before the arrests, a spokeswoman for the protesters said in a statement: "Southend Council say the expansion will bring jobs. | Before the arrests, a spokeswoman for the protesters said in a statement: "Southend Council say the expansion will bring jobs. |
| "But investment in renewable energy would create many more jobs without damaging the climate. | "But investment in renewable energy would create many more jobs without damaging the climate. |
| "What we need is solar power, not plane power. | "What we need is solar power, not plane power. |
| "The bigger runway is bad for climate change, bad for local residents under the flight path and is not needed to help the local economy." | "The bigger runway is bad for climate change, bad for local residents under the flight path and is not needed to help the local economy." |
| Plane Stupid announced on Twitter at 10:40 BST that members had invaded the runway at 09:00 BST and remained there "for at least an hour". | |
| Essex Police said officers responded quickly to reports of protesters gaining access to Southend Airport shortly after 09:00 BST. | Essex Police said officers responded quickly to reports of protesters gaining access to Southend Airport shortly after 09:00 BST. |
| "Officers have arrested 16 people and they are currently in police custody," a spokesman said. |