"Protesters in siege threat to BAA"

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Protesters in siege threat to BAA
United Kingdom - The Press Association

  
Climate change activists are promising a dramatic climax to their six-day
protest at Heathrow Airport, with a siege at the headquarters of airports
operator BAA.

Police said they were confident they could contain the direct action, which
organisers said would run for 24 hours from midday on Sunday.

More than 1,000 protesters are expected to mark out the 3km stretch of land
set aside for a third runway and then surround BAA's offices near the
airport.

Police arrested six anarchists from the Heathrow camp on suspicion of
burglary yesterday after around 20 broke into a warehouse in Hayes, owned by
Carmel Agrexco, an Israeli fruit and vegetable importer.

Amos Orr, general manager of Agrexco UK, said they caused chaos and many
were drunk and aggressive.

The Camp for Climate Action is squatting near the village of Sipson, between
the airport and the M4, on land owned by Imperial College.

There have been huge traffic jams caused by police checks on the southbound
M4 spur road, a main artery into Heathrow.

Officers have been preparing for up to 2,000 more people to join the camp.

The squatters are campaigning against the expansion of Heathrow and aviation
in general because they believe carbon-emitting activities such as air
travel contribute to global warming.

So far their presence had not disrupted services at Heathrow, an airport
spokesman said.

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