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| Parliament hit by green protest | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Police have been forced to close the main public entrance to Parliament after environmental protesters attempted to force their way in. | |
| Up to 600 demonstrators, including those against the expansion of Stansted and Heathrow airports, took part. | |
| Officers made six arrests and have shut the St Stephen's Gate entrance. | |
| Organised by the Climate Rush group, the aim was to emulate the attempt by the Suffragette movement to storm Parliament 100 years ago. | |
| At about 1830 BST, demonstrators marched to Parliament where they were stopped by police at the St Stephen's entrance. | |
| We simply wanted to exercise our legal right to make our representations to Parliament Protester Carole Barbone | |
| Police said none of the environmental demonstrators had managed to breach security. | Police said none of the environmental demonstrators had managed to breach security. |
| Inspector Tim Barfoot, who was on the scene, said: "The situation is being dealt with. | Inspector Tim Barfoot, who was on the scene, said: "The situation is being dealt with. |
| "We are concerned to ensure the effective running of Parliament." | "We are concerned to ensure the effective running of Parliament." |
| Five people have been arrested for breach of the peace and a 23-year-old woman has been held for breach of bail, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said. | Five people have been arrested for breach of the peace and a 23-year-old woman has been held for breach of bail, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said. |
| Doors at the main St Stephen's Gate entrance were closed and secured with two large metal bars. Protesters striking the doors were clearly audible from the inside. | Doors at the main St Stephen's Gate entrance were closed and secured with two large metal bars. Protesters striking the doors were clearly audible from the inside. |
| About 400 demonstrators from a number of organisations had gathered during the afternoon for a protest and rally. | |
| 'Peaceful protest' | |
| One protester, Rosie Haworth-Booth, 62, from Wandsworth, south-west London, said: "It's a pity we couldn't get into Parliament. I was near the front and got a bit afraid. I'm too old for this. | One protester, Rosie Haworth-Booth, 62, from Wandsworth, south-west London, said: "It's a pity we couldn't get into Parliament. I was near the front and got a bit afraid. I'm too old for this. |
| "The government is prepared to give £50bn to help the banks and more people will be affected by this issue." | "The government is prepared to give £50bn to help the banks and more people will be affected by this issue." |
| Carole Barbone, of Stop Stansted Expansion, said: "I can understand the police might have felt there was a risk due to the numbers of people involved but there was no intention from anyone involved to cause any damage or harm to people or property. | Carole Barbone, of Stop Stansted Expansion, said: "I can understand the police might have felt there was a risk due to the numbers of people involved but there was no intention from anyone involved to cause any damage or harm to people or property. |
| "We simply wanted to exercise our legal right to make our representations to Parliament." | "We simply wanted to exercise our legal right to make our representations to Parliament." |
| The government gave the go-ahead to Stansted's expansion this month and a decision on Heathrow is due this year. |