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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Heathrow Airport climate change protest delays flights | Heathrow Airport climate change protest delays flights |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Protesters disrupted flights at Heathrow Airport by cutting through a fence and chaining themselves together on a runway. | |
| Direct action group Plane Stupid said 13 demonstrators opposed to the airport's expansion plans got on to the northern runway at 03:30 BST. | Direct action group Plane Stupid said 13 demonstrators opposed to the airport's expansion plans got on to the northern runway at 03:30 BST. |
| Six protesters have been arrested on suspicion of Aviation Act offences, police said | Six protesters have been arrested on suspicion of Aviation Act offences, police said |
| The runway was closed for nearly three hours and 13 flights were cancelled. | The runway was closed for nearly three hours and 13 flights were cancelled. |
| The airport apologised for the disruption caused and advised passengers to check with their airlines before they travel. | The airport apologised for the disruption caused and advised passengers to check with their airlines before they travel. |
| Some protesters are still at one of the runways and the police said officers would remain at the scene until all the demonstrators had been removed. | Some protesters are still at one of the runways and the police said officers would remain at the scene until all the demonstrators had been removed. |
| 'Security concerns' | |
| The airport's southern runway remained open throughout the protest. | The airport's southern runway remained open throughout the protest. |
| "We are working closely with the police who are dealing with the incident. | "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. | "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. | "Our priority remains to ensure the safe running of the airport," said the airport in a statement. |
| The airport said the first flight was meant to take off from the northern runway at about 06:00 BST. The runway reopened at 06:20. | The airport said the first flight was meant to take off from the northern runway at about 06:00 BST. The runway reopened at 06:20. |
| Afzal Ashraf, from the defence and security think tank the Royal United Services Institute, said the protesters' actions raised security concerns. | |
| "If they did manage to get to a runway before being apprehended then there is a bit of an issue," he said. | |
| "If a terrorist group came up to the fence it would take a few minutes to cut through." | |
| 'Hose them down' | |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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: "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." | |
| Some British Airways flights due to depart from Heathrow Terminal 5 were disrupted due to the protest. | |
| Louise Rogers, 35, and Ciara Lalor, 34, had their flight to Dublin cancelled. | |
| Ms Lalor said: "They shouldn't be allowed. Get the fire engine out and hose them down." | |
| 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. |
| Are you in the area? Has your journey been affected? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story. | Are you in the area? Has your journey been affected? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |