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Heathrow airport disrupted as climate activists protest on northern runway Heathrow airport disrupted as climate activists protest on northern runway
(about 2 hours later)
Climate change activists have chained themselves together on the northern runway at Heathrow, with the airport warning of some delays and cancellations for passengers.Climate change activists have chained themselves together on the northern runway at Heathrow, with the airport warning of some delays and cancellations for passengers.
A dozen demonstrators from direct action group Plane Stupid cut through a perimeter fence and entered the northern runway at 3.30am. Activists wore armlocks and lay on the runway. Thirteen demonstrators from direct action group Plane Stupid cut through a perimeter fence and entered the northern runway at 3.30am. Activists wore armlocks and lay on the runway where police brought heavy machinery to cut them free.
A spokesman said the protesters – one dressed as a polar bear – were campaigning against runway expansion and would stay for as long as possible. Plane Stupid said the protesters – one dressed as a polar bear – were campaigning against runway expansion and further protests would follow.
Heathrow has cancelled 13 flights so far on Monday, which a spokesman said was “mostly” due to protest action. Heathrow has cancelled 13 flights so far on Monday, which a spokesman said was mostly due to protest action.
Other flights were experiencing delays but a spokesman said the demonstration was “having a very minimal effect on the operation” of the airport, which averages 1300 flights per day. At least seven cancellations were British Airways domestic and short-haul flights, and a spokesman for the airline said it was “doing everything we can to minimise disruption to our flights”.
Other flights were experiencing delays but a Heathrow spokesman said the demonstration was “having a very minimal effect on the operation” of the airport, which averages 1,300 flights per day.
3 double sets of arm locks at the base of tripod in the middle of the runway at #heathrow #keepitontheground pic.twitter.com/Tr6AKPpgbt3 double sets of arm locks at the base of tripod in the middle of the runway at #heathrow #keepitontheground pic.twitter.com/Tr6AKPpgbt
Heathrow said customers should check the status of their flights. Both runways are operational but the northern runway is shorter than normal and can only accept shorthaul flights, a spokesman said. Heathrow said customers should check the status of their flights. Both runways are operational but the northern runway is shorter than normal and can only accept short-haul flights, a spokesman said.
“We are working closely with the police who are dealing with the incident. The southern runway remains open,” a statement from the airport said. “Our priority remains to ensure the safety of the airport community, including passengers, employees and protesters.”“We are working closely with the police who are dealing with the incident. The southern runway remains open,” a statement from the airport said. “Our priority remains to ensure the safety of the airport community, including passengers, employees and protesters.”
A Metropolitan police spokesman said: “At approximately 3.45am officers were alerted to a number of protesters who had made their way airside at Heathrow airport. A small number of these protesters are believed to have chained themselves to a ‘tripod’. Officers are in attendance.” Seven hours into the protest, police had arrested nine people after cutting through their arm locks and the four remaining activists have been moved to a “safe area” while officers continue to try and remove their arms from the locks.
Four hours after the activists first arrived, police had managed to remove three of them from the arm locks. A Metropolitan police spokesman said: “At approximately 3.45am officers were alerted to a number of protesters who had made their way airside at Heathrow airport. A small number of these protesters chained themselves to a ‘tripod’. Officers are in attendance.”
First activist taken away at #heathrow sending a clear message we want #NoThirdRunway #noifsnobuts pic.twitter.com/5ZPqL8jRGXFirst activist taken away at #heathrow sending a clear message we want #NoThirdRunway #noifsnobuts pic.twitter.com/5ZPqL8jRGX
Second activist taken off now #NoThirdRunway third being cut pic.twitter.com/TyhqxTXZkwSecond activist taken off now #NoThirdRunway third being cut pic.twitter.com/TyhqxTXZkw
Yep, still going on this one... #keepitontheground pic.twitter.com/voFhgDKtsoYep, still going on this one... #keepitontheground pic.twitter.com/voFhgDKtso
A video posted online from earlier in the protest appeared to show several activists chained together and being spoken to by a police officer. The officer told them: “As a consequence of you being here, you are causing severe disruption and it will be in the millions of pounds because it will take us a while to remove you.A video posted online from earlier in the protest appeared to show several activists chained together and being spoken to by a police officer. The officer told them: “As a consequence of you being here, you are causing severe disruption and it will be in the millions of pounds because it will take us a while to remove you.
“The cost will be in the couple of millions. The airport will attempt to make a civil recovery.”“The cost will be in the couple of millions. The airport will attempt to make a civil recovery.”
The officer told the group international flights were being diverted though an airport spokesman said none had been so far.The officer told the group international flights were being diverted though an airport spokesman said none had been so far.
Sarah Shoraka of Plane Stupid said the group had re-formed since the publication this month of a long-awaited report that recommended a new runway should be built at Heathrow rather than Gatwick.Sarah Shoraka of Plane Stupid said the group had re-formed since the publication this month of a long-awaited report that recommended a new runway should be built at Heathrow rather than Gatwick.
After three years of investigation, the Airports Commission said Heathrow was best placed to provide “urgently required” capacity.After three years of investigation, the Airports Commission said Heathrow was best placed to provide “urgently required” capacity.
“We thought we’d won this fight, because David Cameron said ‘no ifs, no buts’ there would be no runway at Heathrow,” Shoraka told the Guardian. “We thought it was off the table and then the report came through and we thought ‘we’re going to have to fight this all over again’.” “We thought we’d won this fight, because David Cameron said ‘no ifs, no buts’ there would be no runway at Heathrow,” Shoraka told the Guardian.
“We thought it was off the table and then the report came through and we thought: ‘We’re going to have to fight this all over again’.”
She insisted the activists had not endangered flights. “We picked the spot so we wouldn’t endanger flights trying to land. But we are not big corporations, we are not Boris Johnson, we don’t have resources at our disposal other than our bodies.She insisted the activists had not endangered flights. “We picked the spot so we wouldn’t endanger flights trying to land. But we are not big corporations, we are not Boris Johnson, we don’t have resources at our disposal other than our bodies.
“We need to insert climate change into the narrative, it’s been absent from the whole debate ever since the report came out.”“We need to insert climate change into the narrative, it’s been absent from the whole debate ever since the report came out.”
Plane Stupid would stage more demonstrations on the issue, she added. “There is a huge coalition of groups against this and we have to stop this again.”Plane Stupid would stage more demonstrations on the issue, she added. “There is a huge coalition of groups against this and we have to stop this again.”
The airport has already repaired the hole cut by the activists in its perimeter fence, but an aviation security expert said the ability of the activists to get through the barrier would not be a serious security issue.
“Airports have around a 20km perimeter on average, a fence is essentially a demarcation line,” said Philip Baum, editor-in-chief of Aviation Security International. “The important thing is, if the fence is breached, the security services at the airport have the technology to spot them and respond.”
He continued: “What is a huge concern is that this is a distraction for the security authorities, who we know are battling a real security challenge from terrorism.”