Posted on 12/07/2008 11:45:29 PM PST by Stoat
Activists cut through fencing and once on the landing strip chained themselves together and surrounded themselves with their security fencing to create a ‘fort’.
Members of the Plane Stupid organisation, who are protesting against the proposed second runway, grounded flights after achieving their aim of closing the airstrip.
Airlines were told to divert their planes in the skies and, although the airport terminal has been opened to passengers, no aircraft are taking off.
Police arrested four of the protesters, who are all wearing reflective yellow vests, after they broke in at around 3.15am.
An Essex police spokeswoman said: ‘About 50 protesters have gained access to Stansted Airport and they are airside.
‘We have arrested four people so far.
‘Police have contained the area where the protesters are and they will be dealing with them in due course.’
A spokeswoman for Plane Stupid said the activists were chained together on the runway and had created ‘a fort’ by surrounding themselves with security fencing.
She said they planned to keep up the blockade for as long as possible to prevent the runway reopening.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I confess that I would have no problems with lethal measures in a case like this. The UK is at war, as are we. The concept of a 'secure area' at an airport 'should' mean something. When crap like this goes on and we get quotes like:
"If they want to continue in this lawless manner, then yes they can," spokesman Nick Barton told Sky News.
and
'We do not run a fortress, we run an airport.
then it is apparent to me that the concept of a 'secure area' does not, in fact, mean anything at all.
"sigh"
Not much sympathy for the eco-terrorists.
Since it's an airport, a low level, say 10' off the deck, supersonic pass by a Typhoon would do nicely to "scatter" the crowd....
Chained together?
Oh, that makes it so easy. One tow chain, one big ole SUV, drag them off. No fuss no muss.
Yes, they sure are. At least the Luddites were concerned about jobs and not simply bashing technology as a cornerstone of their religion.
10 out of 10 for style, too.
They’ll think that way until there’s another major terrorist attack via airport.
Then they’ll blame Bush. (I don’t care if it’s England or it happens years from now, they’ll still blame Bush.)
Flights at Stansted were today grounded after at least 50 climate change protesters broke into the airport and occupied a runway.
Activists cut through fencing and once on the landing strip chained themselves together and surrounded themselves with their security fencing to create a ‘fort’.
What, there aren’t any bulldozers in the UK??
Shoot on sight on the count of 3, 2, 1....
“What, there aren’t any bulldozers in the UK??”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcC0Eo6MTVA
Snowplows (snowploughs).
They shoulld have had the fire hoses, Alsatian dogs, pepper spray, and batons tuned up in fifteen minutes. Scratch that; they should have been machine gunned as soon as they broke the perimeter.
They shoulld have had the fire hoses, Alsatian dogs, pepper spray, and batons tuned up in fifteen minutes. Scratch that; they should have been machine gunned as soon as they broke the perimeter.
They shoulld have had the fire hoses, Alsatian dogs, pepper spray, and batons tuned up in fifteen minutes. Scratch that; they should have been machine gunned as soon as they broke the perimeter.
Visualize protesters being moved ...
Image 767 engines sucking up the running, terrified criminal bastards and blowing them out like so much charred Chef Boyardi spagetti.
Olivia Chessell is quite the ugly fat cow isn’t she?
(edit)
Thousands of furious passengers left stranded after dozens of flights were cancelled and others seriously delayed had to be kept calm by armed police.
(edit)
The protesters, mostly under 25 and mainly students, arrived in an old fire-engine and just before 3am and used bolt-cutters to break through a perimeter fence.
(edit)
Officers arrested 57 activists and took them away in an airport shuttle bus as the first planes took off overhead.
At least one, Olivia Chessell, 20, was convicted last month of a rooftop protest at the House of Commons in February.
She avoided prison for the protest and was instead fined £365 after being found guilty of trespass.
Airside: Campaigner Olivia Chessell who staged a roof-top protest at Westminster earlier this year. Below, two more young protesters
Ex-public schoolgirl Lily Kember, 21, now a student at Edinburgh University, acted as the group's 'mouthpiece' from the airfield during the sit-in.
(edit)
Anger: Thousands of passengers were stranded, leaving the airport in chaos. Armed police had to be brought in to keep the crowds calm
(edit)
Those who manage to re-book would not be charged extra and people on specific flights would be able to claim a refund, it said.
But scores of angry passengers were still queuing at the check-in desk this morning. Four armed policemen were brought in to help keep order.
Next to one officer was a large advertising board declaring: '100 per cent Guest Satisfaction Guarantee - Because we love to leave you satisfied.'
One woman in the queue remarked wryly: 'It's good to see that irony isn't dead.'
Gordon Brown's spokesman said: 'Of course everybody has a right to protest, but people also have a right to be able to travel without unnecessary hindrance.'
(edit)
Asked if she had any sympathy for protesters, she added: 'Not at all. They have caused great inconvenience.'
Terry Purton, 61, of Edenbridge, Kent, who had been due to fly to Bratislava, added: 'f they can do it, I'm sure there would be nothing to stop terrorists.'
(edit)
The GMB trade union, which represents workers at Stansted, said it had been pressing officials to review security because of its state for months.
National officer Mick Rix said: 'The GMB has been raising the state of the fencing around Stansted Airport for a number of months because we have not been satisfied that it is in a good enough state.
'We have been seeking a seat on the relevant committee that looks after the security of the airport but we have been excluded.'
Too easy: The gap in the secure fencing where protesters gained entry
(edit)
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As usual, the best part of the article is the commentary from Daily Mail readers....there is a widespread visceral anger against the protesters. Here are just a few of the well over 150 comments:
What idiots! Do they not understand that people have jobs? I work as cabin crew for Ryanair out of Stansted, and due to the cancellation of those flights because of those selfish morons who are probably sponging off the government and living on tax payers money (what normal person with a job has time to do something as idiotic as that?) the crews will have been up since 3 in the morning, to get to work, to then be told there flight is cancelled and not get paid a single penny. It will also have disrupted the plans of many passengers. I would say its a pure selfish act!
elene, Stansted, 8/12/2008 1:02
One MP embarrasses an incompetent and inept Home Secretary gets visited by NINE anti-terrorist police. Fifty protestors break into private property and put at risk passengers and aircraft plus possibly causing physical damage and they are left alone for hours before local plods eventually take action.
Balanced response, you make the call.
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I suggest the Police use a hosepipe. A blast of cold water will quickly put a stop to this criminal activity. If any of this lot are on benefits, I seuggest that payments are suspended for 6 months. Whilst these people see it as a protest it is criminal activiity causing irritation to law abiding travellers
- Hugh Craen, Haywards Heath, 7/12/2008 23:28