Just Stop Oil protesters arrested after blocking Gatwick Airport departure gates

Just Stop Oil supporters have caused chaos after disrupting check-ins at Gatwick airport, after activists blocked departure gates on Monday morning.

At around 8am on July 29, seven supporters of Just Stop Oil entered the Southern terminal at Gatwick and used suitcases with lock-on devices to block the departure gates. They have since been arrested, with pictures showing police officers at the scene.

A London Gatwick spokesman said: “London Gatwick is open and operating normally today. There are a small number of protesters at the airport who have now been arrested and are being removed from the airport.”

A spokesperson for Sussex Police added: " Police responded to a report that protesters were demonstrating near the security entrance at the South Terminal in Gatwick Airport at around 8am today (July 29).Eight people have been arrested on suspicion of interfering with public infrastructure, and a heightened police presence should be expected at this time.The airport is functioning as usual, and no disruption has been caused by protest activity."

The group says it is working with groups internationally to demand governments establish a fossil fuel treaty, to end the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030.

One of those taking action this morning is Mel Carrington, 63, a mum and former environmental consultant from Dorset. She said: "We’ve just had the hottest three days on earth in recorded history and possibly for hundreds of thousands of years. Innocent people around the world already face extreme weather and deadly heat and no one is prepared for the societal collapse that unchecked global heating will bring.

"I’m terrified of what it will mean for my family and friends when there are widespread crop failures, food shortages and economic meltdowns. It will mean the breakdown of law and order, the end of the NHS and the loss of everything we depend on.

“We need a global emergency plan to rapidly phase out fossil fuels. Our government must work with other countries and commit to signing a legally binding fossil fuel treaty to phase out oil, gas and coal by 2030 – and it must support poorer countries to get off fossil fuels too.”

Also taking action is Greg Sculthorpe, a mathematician from Doncaster, who said: “I can’t bear to stand back and watch millions dying because the rich and powerful prefer to protect their wealth and status, than the lives of ordinary people.”

“Ordinary people have no choice but to fight to defend our families, as we pass every safe threshold that risks triggering irreversible feedback loops, leading us towards a hothouse earth where millions are displaced. We need an emergency fossil fuel treaty to phase down fossil fuels by 2030.”

The Oil Kills international uprising has been taking action at airports around the world. 21 groups across 12 countries have taken action at 17 airports so far. They include Letzte Generation Germany, Folk Mot Fossilmakta and Scientist Rebellion in Norway, XR Finland, Futuro Vegetal in Spain, Just Stop Oil in the UK, Drop Fossil Subsidies and Act Now – Liberate in Switzerland, Letzte Generation Austria, Extinction Rebellion and Scientists Rebellion in Sweden, Doe Deurne Dicht in Belgium, Last Generation Canada, XR Boston, Last Generation Sacramento, and Scientist Rebellion Turtle Island from the USA.

The Oil Kills international began last Wednesday the same week the world’s hottest day has been broken twice in one week. Last Monday, the global average surface air temperature reached 17.15C, breaking the record of 17.09C set the previous day. This beats the record set in July 2023.

Just Stop Oil added: "As long as political leaders fail to take swift and decisive action to protect our communities from the worst effects of climate breakdown, Just Stop Oil supporters, working with other groups internationally, will take the proportionate action necessary to generate much needed political pressure.

"This summer, areas of key importance to the fossil fuel economy will be declared sites of civil resistance around the world."