Environmental activists arrested after departure gate protest at UK airport

LONDON

Protesters from a British environmental group were arrested at Heathrow Airport after blocking the departure gates at Terminal 5, police said Thursday.

In a statement, Metropolitan Police said that seven Just Stop Oil protesters have been arrested "on suspicion of public order offences" after they blocked a passenger search area at Terminal 5, Heathrow.

It added that officers swiftly attended and removed the protesters with minimal disruption caused.

Just Stop Oil, a British environmental activist group primarily focused on the issue of human-caused climate change, said on X that a total of 17 members have been arrested, including a person filming the protest and 10 others who were arrested on public transport.

Photos shared by the group show some protesters blocking departure gates by holding signs, reading: “Oil kills” and “Sign the treaty.”

In a similar action, the group blocked a departure gate at the Gatwick Airport on Monday.