Insta
Radical Environmentalists? Police Thwarts Bid By London Group’s Attempt To Shut Down Heathrow Airport Using Drones
Swarajya Staff
Sep 13, 2019, 05:26 PM | Updated 05:26 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
London police have thwarted an attempt by an environmentalist group ‘Heathrow Pause’ to shut down the airport in London, the busiest in all of Europe, AFP reports.
The attempt was part of the plan to stop the construction of a third runway in a bid to conserve the environment. Seven people have been arrested by the police in relation to the incident after the security agency deployed a sweeping cordon across the airport.
Our runways and taxiways remain open and fully operational despite attempts to disrupt the airport through the illegal use of drones in protest nearby.
— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) September 13, 2019
Full statement: pic.twitter.com/ciLvaFW1g5
The group had planned to use toy drones to disrupt flights at the airport but failed after the first such miniature drone failed to receive any signals from the hand-held remote control.
"We're the fire alarm ringing in the middle of the night telling people to wake up, your house is on fire," one of the environmentalists preparing to fly her own drone in the coming days said.
"We agree with the need for climate change action but illegal protest activity designed with the intention of disrupting thousands of people is not the answer," a London police spokesperson said regarding the incident.
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Introducing ElectionsHQ + 50 Ground Reports Project
The 2024 elections might seem easy to guess, but there are some important questions that shouldn't be missed.
Do freebies still sway voters? Do people prioritise infrastructure when voting? How will Punjab vote?
The answers to these questions provide great insights into where we, as a country, are headed in the years to come.
Swarajya is starting a project with an aim to do 50 solid ground stories and a smart commentary service on WhatsApp, a one-of-a-kind. We'd love your support during this election season.
Click below to contribute.