Gatwick Airport departure gates blocked by eco-idiots in plot to disrupt holidaymakers
JUST Stop Oil eco idiots blocking departure gates at Gatwick Airport using suitcases with lock-on devices have been arrested.
Seven activists entered the airport’s southern terminal at around 8am today, the group had said – with pictures showing holidaymakers clambering over them to reach the departure lounge.
Images – including those shared on the group’s website – appear to show the activists sitting on the floor inside the airport in front of the South Terminal entrance.
The group – in ‘Just Stop Oil’ t-shirts, also have orange boxes and signs saying “Oil kills” and “sign the treaty”.
It comes amid a campaign by the group to target airports and disrupt the travel industry after steering its focus away from blocking roads.
“This summer, areas of key importance to the fossil fuel economy will be declared sites of civil resistance around the world,” the group added today.
Mel Carrington, 63, a mother and former environmental consultant from Dorset, and Greg Sculthorpe, a mathematician from Doncaster, were said to be among the activists involved.
Earlier this month, Gatwick became the latest major airport to secure a High Court injunction in an attempt to stop would-be environmental activists trespassing on its land after receiving police intelligence over protest plans.
Timothy Morshead KC, representing Gatwick at the hearing, said such action could cause “severe disruption and financial loss” and “significant delays for passengers”.
Last week saw several Just Stop Oil members arrested in multiple countries in a crackdown on their holidays plot.
The eco-zealots had billed July 23 as an “international uprising” by seven groups under the banner “Oil Kills”.
But it ground to a halt after a series of police swoops.
In the aftermath, there were demands for authorities to throw the book at them to prevent a possible summer of chaos.
Seven protesters were led away in handcuffs from Heathrow before they could make it on to a runway. Three others were arrested at other locations.
Airport chiefs said there was “no impact on operations whatsoever”.
The group, seen on bikes at the perimeter fence, were held at 9am under the Public Order Act on suspicion of conspiring to interfere with a site of key national infrastructure.
Cutting gear and glue were found.
Other arrests came in Germany, Norway, Finland, Spain, Austria and Switzerland.
The drama unfolded after Extinction Rebellion mastermind Roger Hallam and four others were earlier this month jailed for up to five years after The Sun exposed their campaign to block motorways in 2022.
It appeared to have been coordinated from the UK, with the press team behind Just Stop Oil pushing out a pre-planned release on behalf of the group.
The group named two of those arrested as Sally Davidson, a 36-year-old a hairdresser from Portland, Dorset, and Adam Beard, 55, a gardener from Stroud, Gloucestershire.
A spokesman for Heathrow confirmed: “Thanks to swift action from the police and airport colleagues, there is no disruption to passenger journeys.
“We are in full agreement that the aviation industry needs to decarbonise, but unlawful and irresponsible protest activity will not be tolerated.”
The Metropolitan Police said: “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.”