Protestors massed outside BAA's building as riot
police looked on |
Climate change protesters are
continuing to blockade the offices of Heathrow Airport operator BAA.
United Kingdom - The BBC
The activists have erected tents in the company's car park as part of
24-hours of "direct action" by members of the anti-aviation Camp for
Climate Action.
BAA said it had told staff not to come to the offices.
Earlier, there were scuffles between campaigners and riot police and
eight people were arrested after blockading British Airways' world cargo
centre.
The activists say they hope to "besiege" BAA "for as long as we can".
But the BBC's Paul Moss, who is at the scene, said BAA had told its
staff to work from other offices on Monday. The protesters, he added, saw
this as a victory.
The blockade - which police say involves about 350 people - is expected
to end at noon on Monday as the camp itself draws to a close.
Police had stepped up their presence on Monday morning in anticipation
of BAA staff arriving for work.
Earlier, they warned that anyone preventing workers
gaining access to the building could be arrested.
BAA 'relaxed'
On Sunday night, a spokesman for BAA said the protest was having no
impact on operations.
"If they want to spend the night in the car park, as long as they do
not interfere with our passengers, we are reasonably relaxed," he added.
Organisers say 1,400 people have been taking part in the day of action,
while police at the scene put the number at about 1,000.
The day began with a march through Sipson village, close to Heathrow,
by activists waving banners bearing slogans such as "You Fly, They Die"
and "No Third Runway: Sipson Village RIP".
Some protesters and members of the local community then symbolically
walked the 3km (1.8 mile) route of Heathrow's proposed third runway.
And the group later stopped vehicles getting into British Airways'
Eastern Perimeter Road depot in a protest they said was to highlight how
transporting food by air is contributing to climate change.
The day was mostly peaceful, but some scuffles took place and missiles
were thrown as riot police encircled about 50 protestors to prevent them
entering BAA's car park.
Six other people were arrested during the day - two for assault on a
police officer, one for carrying Class A drugs, one for criminal damage,
one for going equipped to cause criminal damage, and one for failing to
give a name and address after anti-social behaviour.
Protesters have been at the camp - situated between the M4 motorway and
the airport's northern perimeter in west London - to highlight what they
say is aviation's contribution to climate change.
In total, 58 people have been arrested during the week-long event.
A fifth terminal will open at Heathrow in March 2008 and a new runway
has been proposed by the government for about 2020.
