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Just Stop Oil is targeting summer holidays across Europe as nine activists have been arrested at Heathrow airport.
The group of eco clowns have vowed to use ‘all means necessary’ to disrupt holidays this season as they launched their latest airport campaign.
It comes as a German climate activist group that caused flight cancellations at Cologne-Bonn airport said today that similar disruptions to push for an end to fossil fuels were planned over the next few weeks globally.
‘That was just the beginning today. Over the next few weeks we will repeat this in Germany, Europe and globally,’ a member of the Last Generation activist group said in a media briefing.
Nine arrests in two locations have been made at Heathrow this morning, with video footage showing the group turning up on bikes.
Meanwhile, in Switzerland, eleven activists have blocked main roads around both Zurich and Geneva airport.
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A group of Just Stop Oil activist have been arrested for attempting to disrupt summer holidays at Heathrow airport
JSO activists have been detained after trying to disrupt Heathrow Airport this morning
Footage appears to show a group of three eco clowns being arrested by police before they could cause disruption at the airport today
JSO activists being detained this morning after a Heathrow Airport destruction attempt
Just Stop Oil activists being detained after attempting to cause chaos at Heathrow airport
A JSO activist is seen being detained this morning after trying to cause chaos at Heathrow
Five eco activists for Futuro Vegetal in Spain accessed the taxiway at Barcelona airport but were intercepted before they could take action.
Officers at Heathrow swooped in before the activists gained any unauthorised entry to the airport or the airfield, it is understood, saving passengers travelling on their summer holidays from facing disruption.
The Met Police said in a statement: ‘Nine Just Stop Oil activists have been arrested this morning for conspiring to disrupt Heathrow Airport.
‘Thanks to the work of officers involved, those arrested have been taken into custody and the Met has prevented significant disruption to the airport and travelling public.’
A Heathrow spokesman said: ‘Thanks to swift action from the police and airport colleagues, there is no disruption to passenger journeys. Heathrow continues to operate as normal today.
‘We are in full agreement that the aviation industry needs to decarbonise, but unlawful and irresponsible protest activity will not be tolerated.’
Heathrow Airport said a record 39.8 million passengers travelled through its terminals in the first half of the year.
That is up 7.3% from 37.1 million passengers during the same period last year.
The Letzte Generation (Last Generation) climate group shows an activist with his hand glued to the ground of a runway at Cologne-Bonn airport in Germany
The Last Generation climate group shows a Last Generation activist with her hands glued to the ground of a runway in Cologne
A police car is parked at Cologne-Bonn airport today as climate activists cause disruption
People look at a display showing cancelled flights on the day activists of the Last Generation protest for a change in climate policy at Cologne-Bonn airport
In the first half of 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic, the total was 38.8 million.
Despite a fall in half-year revenues of 2.9%, Heathrow swung to an underlying profit of £178 million, from a £139 million loss a year earlier.
Heathrow chef executive Thomas Woldbye said: ‘Serving record-breaking passenger numbers while continuing to deliver excellent customer service is no easy feat and is testament to the dedication of my hardworking colleagues.
‘In addition to the nearly 40 million passengers that flew through Heathrow during the first six months, so did 765 tonnes of cargo, supporting world leading British industries to access global export markets.
‘We are working hard to deliver economic benefits for all of the UK, but this needs to be supported by joined up policy making that prioritises global competitiveness and sustainable growth.
‘We are encouraged by the new Government’s recognition of Heathrow’s role in powering growth across the country, and look forward to working with ministers to ensure we are firing on all cylinders and retain our global standing.’