Dozens of Just Stop Oil supporters suspected of planning to disrupt airports this summer have been arrested.
The Metropolitan Police said 27 people were taken into custody, including some believed to be 'key organisers' for the climate group.
A total of 17 activists were arrested at their homes across England on Friday morning (June 28) as Metropolitan Police officers worked with more than eight other forces.
Police activity has taken place in Oxfordshire, London, Gloucestershire, Devon, Essex, Manchester, Surrey, Sussex, Norfolk and West Yorkshire.
All the arrests were made under a section of the Public Order Act that makes it illegal to conspire to disrupt national infrastructure.
25 Just Stop Oil supporters suspected of planning to disrupt airports have been arrested in a nationally co-ordinated operation. https://t.co/SdRMhVCu6a pic.twitter.com/nM028ZHcJo
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 28, 2024
Four people were arrested on Tuesday after being identified at Gatwick Airport and have since been released on bail.
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Six were held on Thursday night at an East London community centre hosting a Just Stop Oil event “promoting airport disruption”, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
Chief Superintendent Ian Howells, who led the operation, said: “We know Just Stop Oil are planning to disrupt airports across the country this summer which is why we have taken swift and robust action now."
In response to the wave of arrests, said: “The people enacting criminal damage on an unimaginable scale against all of us – oil company executives and the politicians that they’ve bought, basically – when is it that those folks are going to face the full force of the law?”
He added that disruption is necessary because people are “dropping dead around the world” from extreme heat, and “tipping points” are being passed.
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