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| Version 18 | Version 19 |
|---|---|
| Nine held after airport protest | Nine held after airport protest |
| (about 2 hours 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. |
| The protest began at about 0300 GMT. There were no flights to or from the airport until after 0900 GMT. | The protest began at about 0300 GMT. There were no flights to or from the airport until after 0900 GMT. |
| The protestors were campaigning against any expansion of the airport, claiming it would lead to more harmful carbon emissions. | The protestors were campaigning against any expansion of the airport, claiming it would lead to more harmful carbon emissions. |
| Plane Stupid campaigners protest at Aberdeen Airport | Plane Stupid campaigners protest at Aberdeen Airport |
| A spokesman for Aberdeen Airport had branded the action "dangerous and highly irresponsible". | A spokesman for Aberdeen Airport had branded the action "dangerous and highly irresponsible". |
| Airport managing director Kevin Brown said one of the key concerns for staff had been to ensure the departure of an air ambulance. | 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 the flight, bound for Inverness, had been held up by the protesters, but not for a "significant" length of time. |
| A Plane Stupid spokesperson said the group left voluntarily on public safety grounds after being informed of the needs of the paediatric team on board. | |
| A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed: "We received an urgent request for a paediatric team in a fixed wing aircraft to travel from Aberdeen to Inverness to attend to an ill baby. The flight was able to depart Aberdeen airport after a slight delay." | |
| Mr Brown said that, out of 350 flights scheduled for the day, 10 had been disrupted. | Mr Brown said that, out of 350 flights scheduled for the day, 10 had been disrupted. |
| 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. |
| 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 expert | |
| Some offshore helicopter movements were also disrupted. | Some offshore helicopter movements were also disrupted. |
| 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". | |
| 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. |
| Ms Gifford said before they were detained: "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. |
| Protesters broke through the perimeter 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. | |
| 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." |
| 'Not happy' | 'Not happy' |
| Passenger Shane Fenton, 29, from Aberdeen, had been due to fly to London for a connecting flight to Trinidad. | 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. | 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." | "I think they [the protesters] are terrorists - I think they should have been hosed down." |
| 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. | 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." |
| 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. |