Nine Just Stop Oil protesters convicted after planning to glue themselves to Heathrow runway

Nine Just Stop Oil protesters have been convicted after police intervened to prevent them from gluing themselves to the runways at Heathrow Airport.

Seven of the demonstrators, aged between 26 and 61, were arrested after they were found with glue and angle grinders close to the perimeter fence of the airport on 24 July 2024.

Police have said the items in their possession showed they planned to cut through the fence and attach themselves to the surface of the airfield.

Those arrested also had high-visibility vests with Just Stop Oil branding and prepared statements confirming their intention to go onto the taxiway – a part of the airfield where planes are moved from the hangar to the runway.

Police have said the protesters would have had to cross one of the airport’s runways to do so, “endangering the lives of themselves, airport staff and those on flights taking off and landing”.

There also would have been significant disruption to flights, as the protest would have stopped all departures and affected nearly 260,000 passengers, the seven-week trial at Isleworth Crown Court heard.

Some of the passengers would need to have been diverted to other airports nationally and internationally, potentially leaving them stranded for days, the court heard.

The seven protesters are Sally Davison, 37, Adam Beard, 55, Luke Elson, 32, Luke Watson, 35, Sean O’Callaghan, 30, Hannah Schafer, 61, and Rory Wilson, 26.

Two key organisers – Rosa Hicks, 29, and William Goldring, 27 – were not with the group at the airport but were arrested the same day.

Eight of the protesters were found guilty of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance at Heathrow Airport today.

Wilson had earlier pleaded guilty to the same offence.

Julia Mercer, 74, was acquitted of the charge.

The nine who were convicted will all be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday 16 May.

Chief Superintendent Ian Howells, from the Met’s Aviation Policing Command, said: “The reckless actions of this particular group would have not only put their own lives and the lives of others in danger, but caused havoc at Heathrow airport, bringing flights to a standstill.

“There is a clear distinction between peaceful protest and the criminal activity that this group sought to carry out.

“This kind of action will not be tolerated and the Met will continue to work with all our partners to protect the public, prevent disruption to Londoners and those visiting our city and bring offenders to justice.”

Just Stop Oil is an environmental campaign group which is calling for the British government to halt new fossil fuel projects in the UK.

The group’s actions have grabbed headlines – with campaigners having glued themselves to roads and attached themselves to infrastructure at oil facilities.

They have also disrupted sport events and vandalised famous artworks.

Hundreds of the protesters have been arrested and some have been handed lengthy jail terms.

Source link