Anti-Heathrow Protester 'Die In' Airport Traffic
Anti-Heathrow Protester 'Die In' Airport Traffic
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LONDON - Heathrow protesters have been arrested for lying down on roads, in a mass 'die in'to block traffic to the airport this lunchtime.
Dramatic video footage shows people were dashing out into the middle of oncoming M4 motorway traffic, being chased by police officers and throwing themselves down on the ground.
In sporadic protests elsewhere, including on nearby spur roads, cutting equipment was used to break free some of the climate change protesters who chained themselves together as they lie down on the ground.
At least 100 protesters were reported to be taking part in the action organised by a group called RisingUp! which was protesting over plans for the third runway which was approved by ministers last month.
The protesters said it was a “red line” for the climate and that it “cannot be accepted”.
Police confirmed that at least 15 people were arrested for obstruction and other public order offences around the M4 motorway by 1pm.
Heathrow Airport tweeted at 1.45pm that all local roads were "now running normally following earlier delays due to protest activity".
![Anti-Heathrow Protester 'Die In' Airport Traffic]()
A reporter from LBC captured on video the dramatic moment a woman jumped out from the hard shoulder and dived into the middle of the road.
A police car held up the oncoming motorway traffic as an officer pulled her from the middle of the road over to the hard shoulder with the aid of the officer's colleagues.
Cars being driven by the public could be seen backed up into the distance - as police officers rushed towards the woman to remove her from the road. It is not clear if she was among the protesters arrested.
"A planned protest is ongoing at Heathrow Airport on Saturday 19 November. A proportionate policing plan is in place. There have been 15 arrests for obstructing the highway and public order offences. Officers remain on scene," aMetropolitan Police spokesman said.
As some people were arrested, other campaigners gathered on the flyover to chant "No ifs, no buts, no third runway" and "No more runways".
"The Government's decisions to expand Heathrow, despite mass opposition from local residents and the fact that doing so is incompatible with the UK's own laws on climate change, leaves us with no morally acceptable option but to resist," a spokesman for the group said.
"Only 15 percent of the British public is responsible for 70 percent of international flights taken in the UK and Heathrow largely serves international passengers who have a mean income of £57,000 per year. This expansion is being driven by the very rich at the expense of some of the poorest people in the world," he added.
A spokeswoman for Heathrow said the airport's expansion did not mean a choice between delivering for the economy and protecting the environment.
Dramatic video footage shows people were dashing out into the middle of oncoming M4 motorway traffic, being chased by police officers and throwing themselves down on the ground.
In sporadic protests elsewhere, including on nearby spur roads, cutting equipment was used to break free some of the climate change protesters who chained themselves together as they lie down on the ground.
At least 100 protesters were reported to be taking part in the action organised by a group called RisingUp! which was protesting over plans for the third runway which was approved by ministers last month.
The protesters said it was a “red line” for the climate and that it “cannot be accepted”.
Police confirmed that at least 15 people were arrested for obstruction and other public order offences around the M4 motorway by 1pm.
Heathrow Airport tweeted at 1.45pm that all local roads were "now running normally following earlier delays due to protest activity".
A reporter from LBC captured on video the dramatic moment a woman jumped out from the hard shoulder and dived into the middle of the road.
A police car held up the oncoming motorway traffic as an officer pulled her from the middle of the road over to the hard shoulder with the aid of the officer's colleagues.
Cars being driven by the public could be seen backed up into the distance - as police officers rushed towards the woman to remove her from the road. It is not clear if she was among the protesters arrested.
"A planned protest is ongoing at Heathrow Airport on Saturday 19 November. A proportionate policing plan is in place. There have been 15 arrests for obstructing the highway and public order offences. Officers remain on scene," aMetropolitan Police spokesman said.
As some people were arrested, other campaigners gathered on the flyover to chant "No ifs, no buts, no third runway" and "No more runways".
"The Government's decisions to expand Heathrow, despite mass opposition from local residents and the fact that doing so is incompatible with the UK's own laws on climate change, leaves us with no morally acceptable option but to resist," a spokesman for the group said.
"Only 15 percent of the British public is responsible for 70 percent of international flights taken in the UK and Heathrow largely serves international passengers who have a mean income of £57,000 per year. This expansion is being driven by the very rich at the expense of some of the poorest people in the world," he added.
A spokeswoman for Heathrow said the airport's expansion did not mean a choice between delivering for the economy and protecting the environment.
(rnz)
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