Black Lives Matter protesters who locked themselves together on London runway arrested

A Cityjet flight that was due to arrive in Dublin at 8am was cancelled.

Updated 12.05.

NINE PEOPLE HAVE been arrested after flights were disrupted at London City Airport this morning.

Black Lives Matter protesters got onto the runway at 5.40am, erected a tripod and locked themselves together.

Police started to arrest the protesters at around 9.30am, after awaiting the arrival of specialist resources to ‘unlock’ them.

Tripod Black Lives Matter UK Black Lives Matter UK

The runway was closed for a time while police dealt with the situation.

We're currently experiencing disruption to all flights due to protestors at the airport. Police are currently on the scene.
— London City Airport (@LondonCityAir) September 6, 2016

London City Airport / Twitter

A CityJet flight that was due to arrive in Dublin at 8am was cancelled and a British Airways flight was delayed.

Please be advised, due to a security breach at LCY, all flights are currently suspended. We will have more information soon.
— CityJet (@cityjet) September 6, 2016

CityJet / Twitter

In a statement Black Lives Matter UK said that activists carried out the demonstration “in order to highlight the UK’s environmental impact on the lives of black people”.

The UK is the biggest per-capita contributor to temperature change & among the least vulnerable to its affects. pic.twitter.com/Bb5SmKWyt6
— #BlackLivesMatterUK (@ukblm) September 6, 2016

#BlackLivesMatterUK / Twitter

It added that a planned expansion of London City Airport ”consigns the local community in Newham to further deterioration of their environment”.

Black people are the first to die not the first to fly. This is why London City Airport has been #shutdown pic.twitter.com/HWvwNirerX
— #BlackLivesMatterUK (@ukblm) September 6, 2016

#BlackLivesMatterUK / Twitter

The protesters were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespassing, being unlawfully airside and breaching London City Airport bylaws.

London Airport Black Lives Matter UK Black Lives Matter UK

The protesters have now been removed from the runway and have been taken into police custody.

Protestors have now been removed. We are preparing the airfield to resume operations as soon as possible.
— London City Airport (@LondonCityAir) September 6, 2016

London City Airport / Twitter

Originally published 8.30am.

Read: Irish colleges fall down in international rankings>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Learn More Support The Journal