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Protest closes Heathrow Airport's northern runway Heathrow Airport climate change protest disrupts flights
(34 minutes later)
Climate change activists closed the northern runway at Heathrow for about three hours in a protest against the airport's expansion plans. Climate change activists have disrupted flights at Heathrow Airport after cutting through a fence and getting on to a runway.
Direct action group Plane Stupid said 12 demonstrators cut through a fence and got on to the runway at 03:30 BST. Direct action group Plane Stupid said 12 demonstrators opposed to the airport's expansion plans got on to the northern runway at 03:30 BST.
A spokesperson said the group would stay there for as long as possible. The runway was closed until 06.20. The airport said there would be some delays to flights.
The runway reopened at about 06:20. Heathrow Airport said there would be some delays to flights. The protesters are still at one of the runway, said the airport.
The airport added the protesters were still on one end of the runway. The airport said its southern runway had remained open throughout the incident.
The southern runway has remained open throughout the incident, the airport said. "We are working closely with the police who are dealing with the incident.
In a statement, Heathrow Airport said: "We are working closely with the police who are dealing with the incident. "Both runways are open although there will still be delays - we are sorry for the disruption to passengers. Our priority remains to ensure the safe running of the airport," said the airport in a statement.
"Both runways are open although there will still be delays - we are sorry for the disruption to passengers. Our priority remains to ensure the safe running of the airport."
A video posted online appeared to show several activists chained together and being spoken to by police officers.A video posted online appeared to show several activists chained together and being spoken to by police officers.
The Met Police said the protesters had chained themselves to a "tripod" which they had assembled themselves. In the footage, an 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 Met Police said the protesters had chained themselves together using a tripod which they had assembled themselves.
Ella Gilbert, one of the activists on the runway, said: "We want to say sorry to anyone whose day we've ruined, and we're not saying that everybody who wants to fly is a bad person.
"It's those who fly frequently and unnecessarily who are driving the need for expansion, and we cannot keep ignoring the terrifying consequences of flying like there's no tomorrow."
On 1 July a report recommended a new runway should be built at Heathrow rather than Gatwick.On 1 July a report recommended a new runway should be built at Heathrow rather than Gatwick.
The Airports Commission said Heathrow was best placed to provide "urgently required" capacity, but environmentalists warned building a new runway there would make it harder to reduce air pollution and climate change emissions.The Airports Commission said Heathrow was best placed to provide "urgently required" capacity, but environmentalists warned building a new runway there would make it harder to reduce air pollution and climate change emissions.