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Protesters breach Heathrow security
Kiran Randhawa and Andrew Gilligan25.02.08
Four Greenpeace activists climbed on top of a jet at Heathrow today in what was described as an "incredible security breach".
The two men and two women posed as staff at Terminal 1, wearing highvisibility jackets and carrying fake ID cards.
They waited until passengers got off the flight from Manchester before walking through double doors, crossing the tarmac and climbing the stairs.
A stand-off with police lasted over an hour after they clambered on to tail section of the British Airways Airbus 320.
Protesting against expansion of the airport, they draped a banner on the tail fin saying "Climate emergency - no third runway" as they gave interviews to the press on mobile phones.
The breach will be an enormous embarrassment to the authorities at Heathrow, where security is supposedly at its tightest in the airport's history.
Sarah Shoraka, 30, spoke from the top of the plane, saying: "We have exposed a hole in security but what we are trying to do is expose a hole in the argument for expanding Heathrow. Aviation is a huge polluter and yet the Government wants to double the size of Heathrow. It is completely crazy." Airports operator BAA launched an investigation. A spokesman said: "We are working with the police, the airline and the relevant authorities. Airport operations are unaffected."
The protest comes two days before the end of a government consultation into the airport's expansion. Greenpeace claims the consultation is "fixed".
A spokeswoman for BAA Heathrow said: "There is an important debate to be had regarding airport expansion and BAA respects people's democratic right to protest lawfully. However, direct action on the airfield is unlawful and irresponsible."
Reader views (1)
Whilst obviously this action is a concern with regard to the lack of security at the airport, I praise the campaigners from Greenpeace for highlighting this issue. Air travel is a major factor is climate change and the disturbance of thousands of people in the surrounding area. It was only last year that the jewel in the crown St Pancras was re-opened after an excellent refurbishment to offer commuters land contact with the continent. But unfortunately until the Government changes the taxation of the air industry, it will always be a cheap financial option to fly. More should be done to promote services such as the Eurostar which is a much more relaxing way to travel and causes less environmental impact. As Jimmy Saville used to say 'let the train take the strain'!
- John Mcivor, Tunbridge Wells
