Greenpeace Protest at Heathrow Airport

Greenpeace activists climbed on top of an airliner at London Heathrow Airport in a protest against the airport's development.

The incident, which occurred at Heathrow's Terminal 1 at 09.45hrs on Monday morning, involved a British Airways Airbus A320.

Four protesters were involved in the demonstration. According to Greenpeace, the activists apparently walked through a set of security doors onto the apron.

Waiting until the passengers had disembarked from the aircraft, which had just arrived from Manchester, the protesters proceeded to walk across the apron to the aircraft.

They then climbed up onto the aircraft, and draped a banner around the aircraft's tailfin which read: "Climate Emergency - No Third Runway".

The British Airports Authority (BAA), the company which operates Heathrow, said that emergency services responded to the protest and removed the four protesters from the aircraft. They were subsequently arrested and taken to Heathrow police station for questioning.

Greenpeace said later that the activists ended their protest peacefully, and did not struggle with emergency services to continue the demonstration.

Heathrow Demonstration Was Against Airport Expansion

A Greenpeace spokeswoman said later that the demonstration was mounted in protest at the government's proposals to build a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow, and their wider campaign to tackle climate change.

The three-month consultation into the proposals ends on Wednesday.

One protester, Anna Jones, was quoted as saying: "We are here to draw a line in the sand and tell Gordon Brown his new runway must not and will not be built".
BAA to Investigate Airport Security Breach

BAA said later on Monday it will launch a "full investigation" into the Greenpeace security breach.

The company described the protest as "unlawful and irresponsible", and said that people opposed to the proposed expansion of Heathrow should use "the proper democratic process to make their views known".

Source - Airport International's London Reporter

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