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Nine held after airport protest | Nine held after airport protest |
(10 minutes later) | |
Protesters who barricaded themselves inside a "wire fortress" on the tarmac at Aberdeen Airport have been taken into custody. | Protesters who barricaded themselves inside a "wire fortress" on the tarmac at Aberdeen Airport have been taken into custody. |
Seven members of the campaign group Plane Stupid were detained at about 0820 GMT after releasing themselves. | Seven members of the campaign group Plane Stupid were detained at about 0820 GMT after releasing themselves. |
Two other protesters, who remained on the roof of the main terminal building, were detained later. | Two other protesters, who remained on the roof of the main terminal building, were detained later. |
Flights were stopped after the protest began at about 0315 GMT but resumed just after 0900 GMT. | Flights were stopped after the protest began at about 0315 GMT but resumed just after 0900 GMT. |
A Grampian Police spokesperson said: "All nine people, five of whom are males and four of whom are females, have now been taken into police custody and the incident has been resolved peacefully. | |
"Grampian Police are currently working with the BAA to minimise the impact this incident has had. | |
"An investigation into the incident is currently ongoing at the moment and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal in due course. As such it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage." | |
This action is dangerous and highly irresponsible Aberdeen Airport spokesman | |
Airport operator BAA said there was likely to be some knock-on disruption during the course of the day and passengers were asked to check the status of their flight. | Airport operator BAA said there was likely to be some knock-on disruption during the course of the day and passengers were asked to check the status of their flight. |
Flights to Heathrow, Paris and Amsterdam were among those delayed by the protest. | Flights to Heathrow, Paris and Amsterdam were among those delayed by the protest. |
A number of offshore helicopter movements, which had also been disrupted, began at about 0800 GMT. | A number of offshore helicopter movements, which had also been disrupted, began at about 0800 GMT. |
Plane Stupid said its protesters had dressed in the style of property tycoon Donald Trump, who is backing the expansion of the airport after his plans to build a luxury golf resort in the area were approved. | Plane Stupid said its protesters had dressed in the style of property tycoon Donald Trump, who is backing the expansion of the airport after his plans to build a luxury golf resort in the area were approved. |
They draped a banner across the front of the terminal building, close to the BAA Aberdeen sign, which said "Nae Trump games with climate change". | They draped a banner across the front of the terminal building, close to the BAA Aberdeen sign, which said "Nae Trump games with climate change". |
During the protest, Dan Glass from Glasgow said: "We're here to say the expansion cannot happen, and our generation won't let it happen." | During the protest, Dan Glass from Glasgow said: "We're here to say the expansion cannot happen, and our generation won't let it happen." |
Protester Tilly Gifford, 24, also from Glasgow, spoke to BBC Scotland from the helicopter taxiway, to the east of the main runway. | Protester Tilly Gifford, 24, also from Glasgow, spoke to BBC Scotland from the helicopter taxiway, to the east of the main runway. |
She said the demonstrators had set up a makeshift golf course within a fortified fence. | She said the demonstrators had set up a makeshift golf course within a fortified fence. |
'Carbon emissions' | 'Carbon emissions' |
Ms Gifford said: "Four of the protesters have their necks locked to the fortified fence. | Ms Gifford said: "Four of the protesters have their necks locked to the fortified fence. |
"We are trying to close down the airport. We can measure its success in terms of stopping carbon emissions. | "We are trying to close down the airport. We can measure its success in terms of stopping carbon emissions. |
"We are here to highlight that aviation is the fastest growing source of carbon emissions." | "We are here to highlight that aviation is the fastest growing source of carbon emissions." |
Ms Gifford said that all the protesters were Scottish residents and they were linked to the UK protest which has carried out similar action at airports in England. | Ms Gifford said that all the protesters were Scottish residents and they were linked to the UK protest which has carried out similar action at airports in England. |
A spokesman for Aberdeen Airport said: "This action is dangerous and highly irresponsible, not least because Aberdeen is one of Europe's busiest commercial heliports and a major transport centre for the north of Scotland, used by tens of thousands of people every day. | A spokesman for Aberdeen Airport said: "This action is dangerous and highly irresponsible, not least because Aberdeen is one of Europe's busiest commercial heliports and a major transport centre for the north of Scotland, used by tens of thousands of people every day. |
"There is no justification for this irresponsible action, which is deliberately calculated to delay and inconvenience the travelling public." | "There is no justification for this irresponsible action, which is deliberately calculated to delay and inconvenience the travelling public." |
In December last year Plane Stupid activists caused disruption at Stansted Airport in Essex by occupying the runway. | In December last year Plane Stupid activists caused disruption at Stansted Airport in Essex by occupying the runway. |