Protesters from Plane Stupid have chained themselves together on Heathrow's northern runway to demonstrate against a government commission's recommendation that the airport should get a third runway.
According to reports, 12 of the climate change activists broke through a fence at about 3.30am and chained themselves together. The runway was closed for several hours but is now accepting short haul flights. The airport's southern runway remained in use the whole time. Heathrow warns there "may be delays and cancellations" but there doesn't look to be too much disruption to its usual activity.
3 double sets of arm locks at the base of tripod in the middle of the runway at #heathrow #keepitontheground pic.twitter.com/Tr6AKPpgbt
— Plane Stupid (@planestupid) July 13, 2015
The protesters — one of which is dressed as a polar bear — are being gradually cut free by police, though at the time of writing were still occupying part of the runway.
Polar bear got chilly, bless him. #ironic? #NoThirdRunway pic.twitter.com/5ceyFgzyPJ
— Plane Stupid (@planestupid) July 13, 2015
Earlier this month, the Davies Commission concluded that expanding Heathrow was the best option for solving the UK's air capacity issues and recommended a third runway to the west of the existing two. There are serious doubts however, over whether the politics of expanding the airport mean it'll ever happen in reality.
