A PLOT by Just Stop Oil to wreck summer holidays has been foiled — with 27 activists nicked.
The climate group’s leaders were among those held in a three-day operation.
Met Police chief supt Ian Howells, said: “We know JSO is planning to disrupt airports across the country this summer which is why we have taken swift and robust action now.”
It is thought activists planned to glue themselves to runways and lock themselves on planes to stop them taking off.
Four people were arrested at Gatwick on Tuesday and have since been bailed.
On Thursday, six more were held at an East London centre hosting a JSO event “promoting airport disruption.”
And 17 were arrested at properties across England yesterday, including in Devon, Essex, Manchester, Surrey, Sussex, Norfolk, London, West Yorks, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.
All 27 were detained under the Public Order Act, which makes it illegal to conspire to disrupt national infrastructure.
Chief supt Howells added: “Anyone who compromises the safety and security of airports can expect a strong response from officers.”
Just Stop Oil has claimed the arrests were “unlawful.”
A spokesman said: “It speaks volumes when police crackdown on non-violent Just Stop Oil supporters in this way.”
Asked why they intended to disrupt airports during the holidays, he added: “You can’t really disassociate what we’re potentially planning on doing from the reasons why.”
