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| Climate activists occupy runway | Climate activists occupy runway |
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| Four people have been arrested after more than 50 protesters broke into a secure area of Stansted airport. | Four people have been arrested after more than 50 protesters broke into a secure area of Stansted airport. |
| The action began at 0315 GMT when the protesters occupied a runway that had been closed for maintenance work, said climate action group Plane Stupid. | The action began at 0315 GMT when the protesters occupied a runway that had been closed for maintenance work, said climate action group Plane Stupid. |
| The group said it intended to prevent the scheduled reopening of the runway at the Essex airport at 0500 GMT. | The group said it intended to prevent the scheduled reopening of the runway at the Essex airport at 0500 GMT. |
| Police said they had contained the area where the protestors were and would "deal with them in due course". | Police said they had contained the area where the protestors were and would "deal with them in due course". |
| An Essex Police spokeswoman said: "About 50 protesters have gained access to Stansted Airport and they are airside. We have arrested four people so far." | An Essex Police spokeswoman said: "About 50 protesters have gained access to Stansted Airport and they are airside. We have arrested four people so far." |
| The group said on its website it was holding the protest over greenhouse gas emissions from the airport and that the protesters intended to occupy the runway for as long as possible. We're determined to stop as many tonnes of CO2 as we can Lilly, climate protester | |
| One protester, aged 21, whose name was given only as Lily, said: "We're here because our parents' generation has failed us and it's now down to young people to stop climate change by whatever peaceful means we have left." | One protester, aged 21, whose name was given only as Lily, said: "We're here because our parents' generation has failed us and it's now down to young people to stop climate change by whatever peaceful means we have left." |
| She added: "We're afraid of what the police might do to us, we're afraid of going to jail but nothing scares us as much as the threat of runaway climate change. | |
| "We've thought through the consequences of what we're doing here but we're determined to stop as many tonnes of CO2 as we can." | |
| In October controversial plans for an expansion of Stansted Airport were given the go-ahead by the government. | |
| Airport owner BAA wants to increase passenger numbers from 25 million to 35 million a year and flights leaving the airport from 241,000 to 264,000 a year. | |
| Objectors say an expansion would damage the environment, but some unions said the proposal could bring new jobs. | |
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