Police Make Arrests in Airport Climate Protests

Police have arrested eleven people as they were staging a climate protest outside Biggin Hill airport in Kent as part of the climate campaign against the expansion of Heathrow airport, 16 August.

Reports have revealed that several protesters had chained themselves to the airport perimeter fence.

Another similar protest was also held outside Farnborough airport in Hampshire. However, both airports reported business as usual.

The arrests have came following protesters setting up a week-long climate camp outside Heathrow, the world's busiest international airport, with organisers have promised unspecified "direct action" against expansion plans.

Scientists have said air traffic contributes heavily to global warming, noting that the carbon dioxide and water vapour emitted at altitude are four times more potent than at sea level, increasing their destructive power towards the earth's climate balance.

The government is committed to tackling climate change by cutting CO2 emissions but also backs a rapid expansion of air travel, which is set to double in the next 25 years.

The arrests on Thursday bring the total number of arrests connected with the climate camp since Sunday to 16.

The protest comes at the height of the holiday season, three months after a blazing jeep was used to attack Glasgow airport and a year after police thwarted what they said was a plan to bomb airliners flying out of Heathrow airport to the United States.

Organisers declined to say what the "direct action" would entail, but did say they would target British Airways and airport operator BAA.

The climate camp is just to the north of Heathrow, directly in the path of a proposed third runway and close to BAA's headquarters.

Organisers expect approximately 1,500 people to join the camp, however. with torrential rain forecast this week it is still to be seen whether the protests will be washed out.