An ex-Met Police officer, an Olympic gold medalist and a Paralympian were amongst the protesters arrested on Thursday in a bid to shut down London City Airport organised by Extinction Rebellion.
A spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion confirmed that approximately 60 people were arrested Thursday morning – including 24 people inside the airport, approximately 30 people outside the airport and another six who attempted to board planes and prevent them from taking off.
Protestors announced that they would be attempting to shut down the airport for three days, prompting a huge police presence.
John Curran, a former Metropolitan Police officer, was arrested after supergluing himself to the pavement. He was also arrested during the fortnight-long protest that Extinction Rebellion carried out in April.
Video footage of his arrest on Thursday shows him talking with the arresting officers, asking them to consider loosening his handcuffs.
In another video, he said he was getting involved with protest on behalf of his three-and-a-half year old daughter. “I’m trying to protect her,” he said.
When asked how he felt about being arrested, he added: “I was arrested during the April rebellion, I know the process.
“I’ve arrested and interviewed hundreds of people myself so I know what’s going to happen.
“I’ve got faith in our police.”
James Brown, a Paralympic cyclist from Northern Ireland, was also arrested at City Airport after climbing on top of a British Airways plane and live-streaming from the roof of the aircraft.
Brown, who is visually impaired, broadcast live on Facebook.
“This is all about the climate and ecological crisis. We’re protesting against government inaction on climate and ecological breakdown,” he said.
“I hate heights,” he added.
Ètienne Stott, who brought home a gold medal in the men’s canoe slalom event during the 2012 Olympics in London, similarly posted a video to social media explaining his reasons for joining the protest.
“I’ve been working really hard to inspire and empower people to fulfil their potential and achieve their goals,” he said.
“But now I’ve got to be really clear: We need a living earth. Everything depends on that – all our hopes, all our dreams, all our goals.
“That’s why I’m joining the international rebellion. We need our government and our leaders to act.”
A huge police presence has been mobilised to deal with the protestors, who have said they will continue using a variety of peaceful methods to occupy the airport over the next three days.
As well as being part of the ‘International Rebellion’ movement, the activists based at City Airport are also directly taking a stand against expansion plans at the airport, which they have described as “incompatible” with a “liveable future”.