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Nine held after airport protest Nine held after airport protest
(about 1 hour 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 at about 0900 GMT. The protest began at about 0300 GMT. There were no flights to or from the airport until 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. The protestors were campaigning against any expansion of the airport on climate grounds.
Plane Stupid campaigners protest at Aberdeen AirportPlane Stupid campaigners protest at Aberdeen Airport
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."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.""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."
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.
I think it probably is possible to protect Aberdeen Airport perhaps a little better and some thought needs to be put into that Dr David CapitanchikSecurity expertI think it probably is possible to protect Aberdeen Airport perhaps a little better and some thought needs to be put into that Dr David CapitanchikSecurity expert
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 before they were detained: "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.
Protesters broke through the perimeter fenceProtesters broke through the perimeter fence
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."
Airport managing director Kevin Brown said one of the key concerns for staff had been to ensure the departure of an air ambulance. He said the flight, bound for Inverness, had been held up by the protesters, but not for a "significant" length of time.
He said that, out of 350 helicopter and aeroplane flights scheduled for the day, 10 had been disrupted.
'Not happy'
Aberdeen-based security expert Dr David Capitanchik said the breach showed that airports needed to be well defended.Aberdeen-based security expert Dr David Capitanchik said the breach showed that airports needed to be well defended.
He told BBC Scotland: "I think it probably is possible to protect Aberdeen Airport perhaps a little better and some thought needs to be put into that, I would say."He told BBC Scotland: "I think it probably is possible to protect Aberdeen Airport perhaps a little better and some thought needs to be put into that, I would say."
Passenger Shane Fenton, 29, from Aberdeen, had been due to fly to London for a connecting flight to Trinidad.
He said: "We'll hopefully get a later flight, but there were people next to me due to go to Disney World and they weren't happy.
"I think they [the protesters] are terrorists - I think they should have been hosed down."
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.