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| Version 22 | Version 23 |
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| Stansted protest cancels flights | Stansted protest cancels flights |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Dozens of flights at Stansted airport have been delayed or cancelled after more than 50 protesters occupied a secure area near the runway. | Dozens of flights at Stansted airport have been delayed or cancelled after more than 50 protesters occupied a secure area near the runway. |
| Climate action group Plane Stupid said it started the protest at 0315 GMT by breaching security. | Climate action group Plane Stupid said it started the protest at 0315 GMT by breaching security. |
| The runway was closed for about two hours, but reopened at 0810 GMT. Delays are continuing and passengers are being advised to contact their airlines. | The runway was closed for about two hours, but reopened at 0810 GMT. Delays are continuing and passengers are being advised to contact their airlines. |
| Airport operator BAA said the protest was "unlawful". Police made 57 arrests. | Airport operator BAA said the protest was "unlawful". Police made 57 arrests. |
| A spokeswoman for Essex Police said 50 people had been accused of aggravated trespass, three of attempting to gain access to a restricted area, and four of conspiracy to commit a public nuisance. | A spokeswoman for Essex Police said 50 people had been accused of aggravated trespass, three of attempting to gain access to a restricted area, and four of conspiracy to commit a public nuisance. |
| Ch Supt Ian Gruneberg told BBC News the demonstrators, who were chained together, were "committing a criminal act" and would be dealt with by the courts | Ch Supt Ian Gruneberg told BBC News the demonstrators, who were chained together, were "committing a criminal act" and would be dealt with by the courts |
| 'Not a fortress' | |
| A spokesman for Stansted said a total of 56 in and outbound flights had been cancelled, all of them Ryanair. The airline said the incident was "unacceptable" and demanded an investigation into how it happened. | A spokesman for Stansted said a total of 56 in and outbound flights had been cancelled, all of them Ryanair. The airline said the incident was "unacceptable" and demanded an investigation into how it happened. |
| Stranded Ryanair passengers were advised to go home and re-book, but were warned there was limited availability on all flights for the next three days. | Stranded Ryanair passengers were advised to go home and re-book, but were warned there was limited availability on all flights for the next three days. |
| Nick Barton, BAA's commercial director at Stansted, told BBC Radio 4 he hoped the airport would be able to "recover quite well" from the impact of the protest, but delays would be likely for the rest of the day. | |
| He defended airport security and said staff had responded quickly. | |
| "[The protesters] were unable to get to the runway, and a second wave of protest was stopped at the fence," he said. | "[The protesters] were unable to get to the runway, and a second wave of protest was stopped at the fence," he said. |
| "You should bear in mind, of course, that the runway's about 2,000 acres [8 sq km] in size - it is an enormous area - and we don't intend to run an airport as a fortress." | "You should bear in mind, of course, that the runway's about 2,000 acres [8 sq km] in size - it is an enormous area - and we don't intend to run an airport as a fortress." |
| Bolt cutters | |
| The BBC's Stephen Chittenden, at Stansted, said protesters had brought concrete blocks and 6ft-high security fencing with them and erected a "stockade" about 50m (164 ft) from the runway. They then chained themselves to the fencing. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | The BBC's Stephen Chittenden, at Stansted, said protesters had brought concrete blocks and 6ft-high security fencing with them and erected a "stockade" about 50m (164 ft) from the runway. They then chained themselves to the fencing. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| One of the activists taking part, Lily Kember, 21, said they had forced their way in using bolt-cutters while the runway was closed for overnight maintenance work. | One of the activists taking part, Lily Kember, 21, said they had forced their way in using bolt-cutters while the runway was closed for overnight maintenance work. |
| Ms Kember said she was "incredibly apologetic" that passengers had been affected, but added: "The effects of climate change are going to be monumental." | Ms Kember said she was "incredibly apologetic" that passengers had been affected, but added: "The effects of climate change are going to be monumental." |
| Plane Stupid said on its website that the action was intended to draw attention to CO2 emissions from the aviation industry. | |
| One protester, whose full name was not given, 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, whose full name was not given, 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. |
| "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'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." |
| Stuart Meacock, from Peterborough, was due to fly out of Stansted for a trip to celebrate his first wedding anniversary. | Stuart Meacock, from Peterborough, was due to fly out of Stansted for a trip to celebrate his first wedding anniversary. |
| He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "It's disgusting. I mean, it's not only breaking all of the safety rules, but it's disrupting everybody's lives. | He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "It's disgusting. I mean, it's not only breaking all of the safety rules, but it's disrupting everybody's lives. |
| "I hope they throw the book at them."Ryanair told passengers to go home and rebook online | |
| Another traveller Jorg Tittel told the BBC: "I am all for fighting for our environment, but these kids have failed already. They are making thousands of travellers angry." | Another traveller Jorg Tittel told the BBC: "I am all for fighting for our environment, but these kids have failed already. They are making thousands of travellers angry." |
| BAA said it would investigate the break-in and where necessary, learn lessons from it. | BAA said it would investigate the break-in and where necessary, learn lessons from it. |
| "We respect people's right to protest within the bonds of the law," it said in a statement. "However any unlawful or irresponsible behaviour aimed at disrupting the smooth operation of the airport is unacceptable." | "We respect people's right to protest within the bonds of the law," it said in a statement. "However any unlawful or irresponsible behaviour aimed at disrupting the smooth operation of the airport is unacceptable." |
| 'Mass movement' | 'Mass movement' |
| In October controversial plans for an expansion of Stansted Airport were given the go-ahead by the government. | 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. | 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. | Objectors say an expansion would damage the environment, but some unions said the proposal could bring new jobs. |
| Matthew Knowles, from the Society of British Aerospace Companies, said the protesters were "ignoring the reality around aviation and climate change". | Matthew Knowles, from the Society of British Aerospace Companies, said the protesters were "ignoring the reality around aviation and climate change". |
| "Flight numbers have increased at Stansted, but noise nuisance around the airport has actually decreased and aircraft are 70% more fuel efficient than they were 50 years ago," he said. | "Flight numbers have increased at Stansted, but noise nuisance around the airport has actually decreased and aircraft are 70% more fuel efficient than they were 50 years ago," he said. |
| "The industry has also set itself targets for a further 50% cut in noise and CO2 emissions from 2000 levels in new aircraft by 2050.Protesters say they broke through the airport perimeter using bolt cutters | |
| "It is time these ill-informed protests stopped." | "It is time these ill-informed protests stopped." |
| In Monday's Guardian, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband called for "popular mobilisation" to support politicians trying to pressure world leaders into a deal on climate change amid fears of economic repercussions. | In Monday's Guardian, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband called for "popular mobilisation" to support politicians trying to pressure world leaders into a deal on climate change amid fears of economic repercussions. |
| He said there needed to be "a mass movement" along the lines of Make Poverty History. | He said there needed to be "a mass movement" along the lines of Make Poverty History. |
| Jeremy Hinton was due to travel from Stansted to a UN conference on energy and climate change in Poland, but his flight was cancelled. | Jeremy Hinton was due to travel from Stansted to a UN conference on energy and climate change in Poland, but his flight was cancelled. |
| "It's easy to sympathise with what they're trying to achieve, but [I have] no sympathy with the way they're going about achieving it," he said. | "It's easy to sympathise with what they're trying to achieve, but [I have] no sympathy with the way they're going about achieving it," he said. |
| "It can't be done through illegal means and, from a publicity standpoint, I don't think this gives sympathy to the people who have been on the runway this morning." | "It can't be done through illegal means and, from a publicity standpoint, I don't think this gives sympathy to the people who have been on the runway this morning." |