Flight delays at London City Airport due to Black Lives Matter protests
The London City Airport runway has reopened, after police arrested nine Black Lives Matter protesters who disrupted flights this morning.
The Metropolitan Police were called to the central London airport at around 5.40am today, to reports of protesters airside. Police said there were nine protesters on the runway at the airport who had erected a tripod and locked themselves together.
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Officers negotiated with the protestors and specialist officers arrived to 'unlock' the protestors, the police said. At approximately 9.30am officers started to arrest the protesters. Nine people have been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass, being unlawfully airside and breaching London City Airport bylaws.
City Airport (which was recently given the go-ahead to expand) said the protesters have now been removed and it is preparing to resume operations as soon as possible.
Runway is now open, we apologise for inconvenience caused this morning. Passengers are advised to check with airline for latest flight info.
— London City Airport (@LondonCityAir) September 6, 2016
Protestors have now been removed. We are preparing the airfield to resume operations as soon as possible.
— London City Airport (@LondonCityAir) September 6, 2016
The protesters are said to belong to the Black Lives Matter (UKBLM) group. Last month the group blocked access to Heathrow Airport, with activists chaining themselves to a roundabout near the airport's entrance.
At London City Airport a small elite is able to fly, in 2016 alone 3,176 migrants have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean #Shutdown.
— #BlackLivesMatterUK (@ukblm) September 6, 2016
UKBLM also tweeted a picture of the situation on the runway this morning.
The runway at London City Airport has been shut due to protesters from Black Lives Matter (Source: @ukblm)
We're currently experiencing disruption to all flights due to protestors at the airport. Police are currently on the scene.
— London City Airport (@LondonCityAir) September 6, 2016
Disruption continues due to protestors at LCY, police are on site. We apologise for inconvenience, check with airline for flight status.
— London City Airport (@LondonCityAir) September 6, 2016