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Heathrow Airport climate change protest delays flights Heathrow Airport climate change protest delays flights
(about 1 hour later)
Protesters disrupted flights at Heathrow Airport by cutting through a fence and chaining themselves together on a runway.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
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 ability of protesters to get through a fence and on to the runway has raised security concerns.
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. Six protesters were arrested on suspicion of Aviation Act offences, police said.
'Security concerns' All the protesters were removed from the runway by 10:00 BST.
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. "This morning a group of people staged a protest on the northern runway. These individuals have since been removed by police.
"Both runways are open although there will still be delays - we are sorry for the disruption to passengers. "Both runways were operational throughout, although there have been some delays and a few cancellations - we are sorry to those passengers who experienced disruption this morning," 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.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 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.""If a terrorist group came up to the fence it would take a few minutes to cut through."
Richard Westcott, BBC transport correspondent
This protest generated more publicity than disruption. You might get 13 flights cancelled on any day at Heathrow.
But it raises serious questions about security and the prospect of further protests in future.
Heathrow don't talk about their security, but as I understand it these protesters didn't get very far along the runway because they were detected by the infrared system that normally checks for bits that have fallen off aircraft. Remember Concorde crashed after hitting a small piece that came off another plane.
They do patrol the perimeter, but this clearly shows that it's not too hard to cut your way through in the early hours and disrupt one of the world's busiest airports. The road goes right next to the fence.
It's one thing dealing with 13 climate change activists in polar bear suits. But what if it was a group with a more sinister motive?
'Hose them down''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."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. At least seven British Airways flights from Terminal 5 were cancelled, a spokesman from the airline said: "We are doing everything we can to minimise disruption to our flights."
Louise Rogers, 35, and Ciara Lalor, 34, had their flight to Dublin cancelled.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."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.
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