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Southend Airport runway protesters arrested Southend Airport runway protesters arrested
(about 4 hours later)
Sixteen climate change activists have been arrested at London Southend Airport. Fifteen 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 said they planned to put solar panels on the runway and do a dance routine dressed as pilots and cabin crew.
Police initially said 16 people were in custody, but at 15:00 BST confirmed five men and 10 women were detained.
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. 'Solar power'
'Not needed' The Stobart Group, which owns the airport, aims to have two million passengers a year passing through its terminal, by 2020.
Before the arrests, a spokeswoman for the protesters said in a statement: "Southend Council say the expansion will bring jobs. In a statement before the arrests, a spokeswoman for the protesters said: "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". Using Twitter, Plane Stupid said members had invaded the runway at 09:00 BST and remained there "for at least an hour".
'Suspicious activity' Essex Police said officers responded quickly to reports of protesters gaining access to Southend Airport shortly after the protesters broke in.
Essex Police said officers responded quickly to reports of protesters gaining access to Southend Airport shortly after 09:00 BST. Flights 'unaffected'
"Officers have arrested 16 people and they are currently in police custody," a spokeswoman said. All 15 suspects are being held on suspicion of entering a restricted zone at an airport and aggravated trespass.
She added that some had managed to get on to the runway. A 20-year-old man and a 19 year-old woman from Norwich and a 43 year-old man from Whitstable in Kent are among those arrested.
A spokeswoman for the airport said: "Earlier this morning Essex Police were called to London Southend Airport following a report of suspicious activity at the airport perimeter. The remainder are from various parts of London.
"Police swiftly dealt with a breach in the airport perimeter and a number of people were arrested. Det Ch Insp Stuart Hooper said: "We were on heightened general alert to airports and our response to the protest was very swift.
"The runway was closed for a short period whilst the police responded. "We have a number of well-rehearsed contingency plans for events such as this and we have launched a criminal investigation following the incident at Southend."
"No flights were impacted by this event." An airport spokeswoman confirmed the runway had been closed for a "short period" while police dealt wth the situation.
"No flights were impacted by this event," she said.