Heathrow Airport: Just Stop Oil protesters foiled in minutes after latest stunt

Just Stop Oil protesters have been foiled once again as the Met Police have arrested nine people in a morning of chaos at Heathrow Airport.

Activists attempted to storm the West London airport at around 9am on Wednesday, July 24, in the eco group's latest publicity stunt - but were soon arrested on the perimeter road on suspicion of conspiracy to disrupt airport operations shortly after.

Less than two hours later at around 10.50am, the Metropolitan Police confirmed a further two had been arrested for the same offence.

It comes as the group is demanding that the UK government works with other countries to establish a fossil fuel treaty to end the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030.

A spokesperson for the Met Police wrote on X: "Nine Just Stop Oil activists have been arrested this morning for conspiring to disrupt Heathrow Airport."

The force added: "Thanks to the work of officers involved, those arrested have been taken into custody and the Met has prevented significant disruption to the airport and travelling public."

A Just Stop Oil spokesperson said: “We refuse to die for fossil fuels. Continued burning of oil, gas and coal, as we pass irreversible tipping points that threaten to spin our climate out of control in a rapidly accelerating way, is jeopardising the stability on which our entire society depends.

"This is not only irresponsible, it is an act of war against low lying island states and countries in the global south, who are already suffering devastating consequences as a result of our addiction to fossil fuels. Our political leaders must take action to protect our communities by working with other nations to establish a legally binding treaty to stop the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030.”

A Heathrow spokesperson added: "Thanks to swift action from the police and airport colleagues, there is no disruption to passenger journeys. Heathrow continues to operate as normal today. We are in full agreement that the aviation industry needs to decarbonise, but unlawful and irresponsible protest activity is not the way forward and will not be tolerated."

One of those arrested this morning is Sally Davidson, 36, a hairdresser from Portland, who said:

“Mass migration and global food shortages are becoming commonplace as large areas of inhabited land are becoming too hot to support human life. It is our young people in the UK and those around the world who have done little to contribute to this crisis who will bear the brunt of what is to come.”

“Our new government must take swift and meaningful action to end the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030, by establishing a legally binding treaty to phase out fossil fuels. Anything less is a death sentence.”

Also arrested today is Adam Beard, 55, a gardener from Stroud, who said:

“We need immediate and decisive action to prevent the worst effects of the climate crisis becoming reality, with all the death and suffering that will bring. Our government must work with other nations to enact a treaty to end the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030.”

“Scientists are telling us we are on course for large parts of the world becoming uninhabitable, causing mass death, hundreds of millions of refugees and crop failures in areas that produce the vast majority of the world’s food. Those in power must take seriously their responsibility to protect our population from harm.”

Elsewhere this morning, supporters of Extinction Rebellion in Finland have blocked security gates at Helsinki Vantaa Airport.

Meanwhile in Spain, five supporters of Futuro Vegetal accessed the taxiway at Barcelona airport, however were intercepted before taking action.

In Switzerland, eleven supporters of Drop Fossil Subsidies blocked main roads around both Zurich and Geneva airports.

This comes after German supporters of Last Generation blocked air traffic at Cologne Bonn Airport, causing international delays. Meanwhile, supporters of Folk Mot Fossilmakta (People against Fossil Power) cut through a chain-link fence and sat next to a runway stopping flights departing from Oslo Gardermoen airport.