Activists who prevented ‘deportation plane’ from taking off go on trial in UK

The trial of a group of activists who blocked a plane carrying migrants set for deportation from Britain begins this week.

The group, which have become known as the “Stansted 15”, lay on the runway to prevent the take-off of a plane due to deport 34 asylum seekers back to countries including Nigeria and Ghana in 2017.

The defendants – a number of them are on trial for terrorism related offences – were supported yesterday by more than 200 protesters who gathered outside Chelmsford Crown Court.

The trial had been scheduled to take place in March, but was postponed, with the jury being sworn in yesterday afternoon.

The case has attracted widespread criticism, including from Green Party MP Caroline Lucas, who called the trial a disgrace.

“Sending solidarity to Stansted 15 – who face trial for terrorism charges today for bravely stopping a deportation flight,” Ms Lucas tweeted.

“Because of their actions, 34 people were allowed to stay in the UK to continue their asylum claims.

“It’s a disgrace this overblown case ever reached court.”

The trial comes just weeks after the unfolding of a scandal involving British Prime Minister Theresa May’s “hostile environment” policy, an effort to convince those living in the UK illegally to leave.

The set of policies was widely criticised, and in June Home Secretary Sajid Javid vowed to review them.

At the weekend, Mrs May refused to apologise when pressed on the bid to ensure some visitors leave Britain.

“The purpose of the policy was to ensure that those people who are here illegally are identified and appropriate action is taken,” she said.

The policy caused a scandal this year when it was revealed that a number of legal migrants had been wrongly deported during the prime minister’s tenure as home secretary.