London City Airport flights disrupted by Black Lives Matter protesters blocking runway
http://www.rt.com/uk/358369-london-city-airport-flights-disrupted/
London City Airport has closed its runway due to protesters on the premises. The Black Lives Matter campaign has claimed responsibility. Police are currently at the scene.
A photo taken from the runway shows a Black Lives Matter banner on the tarmac and a group of protesters huddled beside it.
The movement says the aim of the demonstration is to “protest the UK's environmental impact on black people.”
“Airports, power plants, and the busiest of roads in the West tend to be in the most disadvantaged working class areas, where a disproportionate number of black and brown communities live," Black Lives Matter UK said in a video posted on Facebook.
“Environmental racism means that black people in Britain are 28% more likely to be exposed to air pollution than their white counterparts," the video continues, adding that "climate crisis is a racist crisis."
The news comes despite previous reports stating that Plane Stupid, a group dedicated to taking direct non-violent action against aviation expansion, was behind the stunt.
The group has, however, expressed "solidarity" with the Black Lives Matter movement on its official Facebook page.
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
“The runway is currently closed due to protesters on site. Police are present and we will resume normal operations as soon as possible. We apologise to passengers for any inconvenience to their journey,” an airport spokesperson said.
Flights to Zurich, Geneva, and Guernsey have been cancelled, while flights due to arrive from Rotterdam, Luxembourg, New York, and Frankfurt have been diverted.
@LondonCityAir & why are 3/4 of your info boards showing adverts, not flight info? Who cares about trips to Glasgow or Boisdales right now?
— The Thieving Gypsy (@thievinggypsy) September 6, 2016
Police were called to the airport at 5:40 am local time after reports that demonstrators had gotten onto the runway.
The protesters reportedly used a boat to cross the Royal Docks in order to gain access to the tarmac, the Evening Standard reported.
“They got onto the runway using a rubber dinghy from the dock,” a witness, who asked not to be named, told the Evening Standard.
“They are on the runway surrounded by police. I’m not sure if they are chained together but they are huddled together.”
“We believe that the protesters are airside,” a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said. “We are on scene at the moment and the incident is ongoing.”
Disruption continues due to protestors at LCY, police are on site. We apologise for inconvenience, check with airline for flight status.
— London City Airport (@LondonCityAir) September 6, 2016
Some have expressed anger at authorities for taking too long to put an end to the situation.
Protesters Take Over Runway At London City Airport.
What is going on? Thousands disrupted and Police officers are speaking to them!!!!!!!
— PanaceaAdviser (@PanaceaAdviser) September 6, 2016
A £344 million ($458.4 million) expansion project for the airport was given the green light in July.
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