- Joined
- Aug 8, 2008
- Messages
- 233
- Points
- 18
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20081208/tuk-57-arrested-over-stansted-protest-6323e80.html
57 arrested over Stansted protest
13 mins ago
Press Assoc.
* Print Story
Police have arrested 57 people after a protest by climate change activists forced flight cancellations and delays at one of Britain's busiest airports.
Queues grew and tempers frayed in the departure lounge at Stansted Airport after budget airline Ryanair cancelled 56 flights as a result of the early-morning protest by Plane Stupid.
Activists broke into a secure area forcing the runway to remain closed for three hours.
Ryanair called for an investigation into why airport operator BAA had failed to keep the Essex airport "secure and open", saying the disruption to passengers was "unacceptable".
Travellers caught up in the queues for information expressed little sympathy for Plane Stupid's stance that disruption would prevent "the release of thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere".
The protest was sparked by the Government's decision to allow the expansion of the airport with a second runway.
Activist Lily Kember, 21, a third-year anthropology student at Edinburgh University, said the group used bolt-cutters to get into a secure area around 55 yards (50m) from the runway.
BAA said protesters did not get on to the runway, but it was closed as a "precaution".
Stansted Airport and Essex Police said they will investigate the security breach.
"If there are lessons to be learnt, that is what we need to take on board. We need to discover if there's anything we can do better," a BAA spokesman said.
57 arrested over Stansted protest
13 mins ago
Press Assoc.
* Print Story
Police have arrested 57 people after a protest by climate change activists forced flight cancellations and delays at one of Britain's busiest airports.
Queues grew and tempers frayed in the departure lounge at Stansted Airport after budget airline Ryanair cancelled 56 flights as a result of the early-morning protest by Plane Stupid.
Activists broke into a secure area forcing the runway to remain closed for three hours.
Ryanair called for an investigation into why airport operator BAA had failed to keep the Essex airport "secure and open", saying the disruption to passengers was "unacceptable".
Travellers caught up in the queues for information expressed little sympathy for Plane Stupid's stance that disruption would prevent "the release of thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere".
The protest was sparked by the Government's decision to allow the expansion of the airport with a second runway.
Activist Lily Kember, 21, a third-year anthropology student at Edinburgh University, said the group used bolt-cutters to get into a secure area around 55 yards (50m) from the runway.
BAA said protesters did not get on to the runway, but it was closed as a "precaution".
Stansted Airport and Essex Police said they will investigate the security breach.
"If there are lessons to be learnt, that is what we need to take on board. We need to discover if there's anything we can do better," a BAA spokesman said.
