Extinction Rebellion eco-warriors vow to shut down Heathrow Airport with drones for TEN DAYS this summer
ECO-WARRIORS have vowed to shut down Heathrow Airport with drones for TEN DAYS this summer - just as families try to jet off on holiday.
Extinction Rebellion - whose activists brought central London to a standstill in April - will stage protests on June 18 and again on July 1 for up to ten days in a bid to stop a third runway being built at the airport.
Extinction Rebellion chiefs are now demanding an “immediate cancellation” of all work to extend the airport.
A statement on its website said: "Extinction Rebellion demands the Government begins to act on its declaration of a Climate and Environment Emergency by cancelling all Heathrow expansion.
"On June 18, we plan to carry out nonviolent direct action to ensure Heathrow Authorities close the airport for the day, to create a 'pause' in recognition of the genocidal impact of high carbon activities, such as flying, upon the natural world.
"If the Government does not cancel all Heathrow expansion, Extinction Rebellion will act to shut the airport down for up to 10 days from July 1.
"Extinction Rebellion is in the consultancy stage with its members on the proposed action."
The statement, published on Friday, added: "This is not about targeting the public, but holding the Government to their duty to take leadership on the climate and ecological emergency.
"The addition of the planned third runway would make Heathrow the single biggest carbon emitter in the UK - to expand the airport at this critical point in history would be madness.
"We understand the action will cause disruption to a great number of holidaymakers, however we believe that it is necessary given the prospect of far greater disruption caused by ecological and societal collapse, if we don't act now."
HEATHROW THREAT
But this is not the first time the group have targeted the airport.
The climate-change activists sobbed as they were faced by police at Britain’s busiest airport over Easter.
The group had plotted to close Heathrow with up to 800,000 passengers due to travel over the Bank Holiday weekend.
But the demonstration fizzled out without any flights cancelled.
An Extinction Rebellion organiser insisted the group had still caused "emotional disruption".
Their recent threats come after eco-warriors from the group brought parts of London to a standstill with a series of roadblocks during a 10-day climate change protest in April.
Hundreds of activists blocked routes around Marble Arch, Oxford Circus, Parliament Square and Waterloo Bridge – causing travel chaos for thousands of commuters.
If these demands are not met, we will hold a planned picnic and drone session in the fields around Heathrow
Extinction Rebellion
Cops are now pushing for the protesters to be prosecuted for the unrest.
The Met Police’s deputy assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor said: “We arrested over 1,100 people over Extinction Rebellion.
“We currently have a dedicated team who are looking at every single one of those arrested with a view to present them to the Crown Prosecution Service.”
A Heathrow spokesperson said: "This is reckless action that if carried out could endanger the lives of the travelling public and our colleagues.
"We agree with the need to act on climate change, but that requires us to work together constructively - not commit serious criminal offences just as hardworking people prepare to spend a well-earned holiday with their family and friends."
GATWICK GRINCH
The authorities will be on red alert as Extinction Rebellion's airport threat comes less than seven months after a drone brought Gatwick to a standstill.
Around 140,000 people were left facing delayed or cancelled flights after dozens of sightings of a drone forced the closure of Britain’s second busiest airport just days before Christmas.
Sussex cops came under fire for arresting a local couple - then saying there may not have been a drone in the first place.
They later retracted the statement and Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, said police had "not handled their communication response well.”
In light of the Gatwick Grinch attack, Britain now has a three-mile “drone exclusion zone” around major airports.
Anyone caught doing so faces a sliding scale of sanctions – from fines to life imprisonment if they endanger life.
MOST READ IN NEWS
It comes as the Home Office confirms a new Bill will be laid later this year to give police powers to stop and search drone users – and access electronic data stored on the hi-tech device.
Back in February it is believed that Heathrow was in talks to install a £10 million drone detection system in January following the debacle.
It was also forced to cancel flights after New Year when a drone was spotted within the airport perimeter.
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