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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Chained airport protesters held | Chained airport protesters held |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Climate change protesters who chained themselves to the gates of a private airport have been arrested. | |
| Police said 10 demonstrators at Biggin Hill Airport, in south London, were being held under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. | |
| The group said they were voicing their opposition to the growth in the number of people using private jets. | The group said they were voicing their opposition to the growth in the number of people using private jets. |
| They blocked the passenger entrance, but an airport spokesman said flights had been running on schedule. | |
| At least six people had to be cut free by police before being arrested. | |
| Richard George, spokesman for the group, said it was a protest against the super-rich who had their own planes and were not trying to cut their harmful emissions. | Richard George, spokesman for the group, said it was a protest against the super-rich who had their own planes and were not trying to cut their harmful emissions. |
| "(They are) saying they will not only continue to fly, but they will fly in the most carbon inefficient way possible," he said. | "(They are) saying they will not only continue to fly, but they will fly in the most carbon inefficient way possible," he said. |
| Mr George stressed that the group had no plans to prevent passengers flying out of Heathrow at the weekend. | Mr George stressed that the group had no plans to prevent passengers flying out of Heathrow at the weekend. |
| Passengers diverted | Passengers diverted |
| "This is not the sort of thing that will be happening at Heathrow. We have no intention of shutting down Heathrow. That is a very different situation," he said. | "This is not the sort of thing that will be happening at Heathrow. We have no intention of shutting down Heathrow. That is a very different situation," he said. |
| A spokesman for Biggin Hill Airport said: "All our flights are going in and out as scheduled." | A spokesman for Biggin Hill Airport said: "All our flights are going in and out as scheduled." |
| He added: "Passengers are being diverted to a different entrance and there is no disruption to services which are operating as usual." | He added: "Passengers are being diverted to a different entrance and there is no disruption to services which are operating as usual." |
| Ch Insp Mick Dod said: "We asked them to go and they have declined." | Ch Insp Mick Dod said: "We asked them to go and they have declined." |
| He said although the protest was peaceful it was still against the law. | He said although the protest was peaceful it was still against the law. |
| About 18 climate protesters are also demonstrating at Farnborough Airport in Hampshire. | About 18 climate protesters are also demonstrating at Farnborough Airport in Hampshire. |
| Biggin Hill Airport was a busy RAF airbase in the Second World War, and became a civil council-owner airport in the 70s, but is now used by business aviation operators who fly executive clients to London. | Biggin Hill Airport was a busy RAF airbase in the Second World War, and became a civil council-owner airport in the 70s, but is now used by business aviation operators who fly executive clients to London. |
| About 40 flights arrive at or depart from the airport each day. | About 40 flights arrive at or depart from the airport each day. |