Just Stop Oil protesters who tried to block departure gates at Gatwick Airport have been “arrested and are being removed”, the airport said.
Police responded to a report that protesters were demonstrating near the security entrance at the South Terminal in Gatwick Airport at around 8am on Monday.Sussex Police said eight people were arrested on suspicion of interfering with public infrastructure, and no disruption was caused by the protests.
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.”
The environmental protest group shared footage of demonstrators sitting on the floor at one of the airport’s gate as frustrated travellers climbed over them.
The group claimed to use suitcases with lock-on devices to block the departure gates and protesters were spotted wearing Just Stop Oil T-shirts, with their hands in orange-coloured boxes.
Passengers could be seen carrying their luggage over the protesters, who sat silently on the floor.
Just Stop Oil said they were joining 21 other protest groups taking part in an Oil Kills international uprising.
Mel Carrington, 63, a mother and former environmental consultant from Dorset, and Greg Sculthorpe, a mathematician from Doncaster, were said to be among the activists involved.
Protests have taken place at 17 airports across Europe, Canada and the US, Just Stop Oil said.
A Sussex Police spokesperson said: “Police responded to a report that protesters were demonstrating near the security entrance at the South Terminal in Gatwick Airport at around 8am today.
“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.”
In central London, environmental protesters have caused criminal damage and blocked access to an office building on Old Queen Street in Westminster, the Metropolitan Police said.
One person has been arrested for criminal damage, and the incident is ongoing, the force added.
It comes after 10 protesters were arrested at Heathrow Airport or nearby on Wednesday following a Europe-wide campaign threatening summer travel chaos.
The activists were charged with conspiracy to interfere with key national infrastructure under Section 7 of the Public Order Act 2003.
Earlier this month, Gatwick became the latest major airport to secure a High Court injunction in an attempt to stop would-be environmental activists trespassing on its land after receiving police intelligence over protest plans.
Timothy Morshead KC, representing Gatwick at the hearing, said such action could cause “severe disruption and financial loss” and “significant delays for passengers”.
Sussex Police has been contacted for comment.
