Updated 12.05.
NINE PEOPLE HAVE been arrested after flights were disrupted at London City Airport this morning.
Black Lives Matter protesters got onto the runway at 5.40am, erected a tripod and locked themselves together.
Police started to arrest the protesters at around 9.30am, after awaiting the arrival of specialist resources to ‘unlock’ them.
The runway was closed for a time while police dealt with the situation.
A CityJet flight that was due to arrive in Dublin at 8am was cancelled and a British Airways flight was delayed.
In a statement Black Lives Matter UK said that activists carried out the demonstration “in order to highlight the UK’s environmental impact on the lives of black people”.
It added that a planned expansion of London City Airport ”consigns the local community in Newham to further deterioration of their environment”.
The protesters were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespassing, being unlawfully airside and breaching London City Airport bylaws.
The protesters have now been removed from the runway and have been taken into police custody.
Originally published 8.30am.
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