Extinction Rebellion co-founder rearrested over airport protest
THE co-founder of Extinction Rebellion has been rearrested just hours after being released, for attempting to fly drones by Heathrow airport.
Roger Hallam, ringleader of the “Heathrow Pause” movement, was the second person arrested yesterday in connection with the disruption, bringing the total number of people taken into custody to 20 in three days.
Despite their attempts to have the airport shut down by flying drones within a three-mile exclusion zone, Heathrow’s services were unaffected.
Heathrow Pause, a splinter group from Extinction Rebellion, claim that Mr Hallam’s bail conditions stipulated that he not to go within five miles of an airport and must not have any dronerelated equipment in his possession. He was apprehended in Stanwell, off the airport’s southern perimeter road.
The group of environmental protesters has continued its attack on Heathrow for a second day, with “multiple flights” within the exclusion zone.
Anthony Whitehouse posted footage of a short drone flight and then handed himself in to officers at Terminal 4.
On Friday, a former Paralympic athlete who won a bronze medal at London 2012 was also arrested. James Brown, from Northern Ireland, said that he feared going to prison but it was a price worth paying to raise awareness.
A Heathrow spokesman said: “Any persons found [flying drones] will be subject to the full force of the law … We will mitigate the impact of this illegal action and operate in a way that is safe at all times. We agree with the need to act on climate change but change requires constructive engagement and action. Committing criminal offences and disrupting journeys is counterproductive and irresponsible.”