Five seized over planned Heathrow drone protest
FIVE climate change activists have been arrested over plans to fly drones near Heathrow Airport.
The three men and two women, aged between their 20s and 50s, were held on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a public nuisance, Scotland Yard said.
Heathrow Pause, a splinter group of the Extinction Rebellion movement, had said it intended to fly drones (pictured right) in the 5km exclusion zone around the airport today. Roger Hallam, a co-founder of the Extinction Rebellion group, and Mike Lynch-White were arrested in east London yesterday.
Video footage shows the pair being handcuffed by plainclothes officers and put into the back of unmarked vehicles.
Heathrow Pause said they were “pre-emptively arrested” following a magazine interview.
Two women and a man who have not yet been named were also arrested in Highgate, north London.
Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: “We have carried out these arrests in response to plans for illegal drone use.We believe these arrests to be a proportionate response.”
Earlier this week he advised Heathrow passengers to travel as normal, warning activists they face arrest if they fly the machines nearby.
He said: “We are really clear that it is unlawful, it is a criminal offence, and anybody who turns up expecting to fly drones in that exclusion zone will be arrested.”
A meeting was held earlier between activists and the force to discuss today’s action.