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| Dozens arrested at base protest | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A total of 42 peace protesters from Sweden and Finland have been arrested after blockading an entrance to Faslane. | |
| The men and women were held at the nuclear base on Monday morning. | |
| A Scottish protester is also thought to have been arrested at the base on the Clyde. All the protesters were aged between 18 and 38. | |
| A group spokesman said they were held at a police station overnight and plan to travel home later this week. | A group spokesman said they were held at a police station overnight and plan to travel home later this week. |
| Faslane is home to the UK's Trident nuclear weapons system and has seen frequent protests from anti-nuclear campaigners. | Faslane is home to the UK's Trident nuclear weapons system and has seen frequent protests from anti-nuclear campaigners. |
| We believe that nuclear weapons should not be on this earth as they are a threat to humanity Martin Smedjeback | We believe that nuclear weapons should not be on this earth as they are a threat to humanity Martin Smedjeback |
| The protesters - 23 from Sweden and 19 from Finland - had travelled to Scotland from their respective countries late last week and arrived at Faslane at about 0400 BST on Monday. | The protesters - 23 from Sweden and 19 from Finland - had travelled to Scotland from their respective countries late last week and arrived at Faslane at about 0400 BST on Monday. |
| Several members of the protest group sat down on the road in front of the gates, some chained together, while others erected a large tripod to act as an obstruction. | Several members of the protest group sat down on the road in front of the gates, some chained together, while others erected a large tripod to act as an obstruction. |
| Group spokesman Martin Smedjeback, 33, from Stockholm in Sweden, said the protesters were due to be released on Tuesday. | Group spokesman Martin Smedjeback, 33, from Stockholm in Sweden, said the protesters were due to be released on Tuesday. |
| Mr Smedjeback added that his group felt compelled to travel to Faslane as the nuclear weapons at the base were the closest to Sweden and Finland. | Mr Smedjeback added that his group felt compelled to travel to Faslane as the nuclear weapons at the base were the closest to Sweden and Finland. |
| "We believe that nuclear weapons should not be on this earth as they are a threat to humanity," he said. | "We believe that nuclear weapons should not be on this earth as they are a threat to humanity," he said. |
| "That goes for all nuclear weapons, and these ones here are the closest to us." | "That goes for all nuclear weapons, and these ones here are the closest to us." |
| He added: "We were expecting to be arrested - the police were fine with us." | He added: "We were expecting to be arrested - the police were fine with us." |
| A spokesman for Strathclyde Police said: "We arrested 43 people at Faslane yesterday morning after allegations of disorder offences." | A spokesman for Strathclyde Police said: "We arrested 43 people at Faslane yesterday morning after allegations of disorder offences." |