Just Stop Oil: Police swoop on 27 activists suspected of summer airport chaos plot in wave of raids

Police have carried out a nationwide wave of arrests against Just Stop Oil supporters suspected of plotting to disrupt airports this summer.

The arrests took place in London, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Devon, Essex, Manchester, Surrey, Sussex, Norfolk and West Yorkshire, the Metropolitan said in a statement on Friday.

Scotland Yard said that on Tuesday four people were arrested after being identified at Gatwick Airport and have been released on bail.

It said that on Thursday six more people were arrested at an east London community centre "as part of a publicly-advertised event promoting airport disruption".

"Among those held were several high-profile members of Just Stop Oil who we believe to be key organisers," the force said.

And on Friday, Met officers worked with eight other police forces to arrest 17 suspects at their homes across the country.

Chief Supt Ian Howells, who led the operation, said: "We know Just Stop Oil are planning to disrupt airports across the country this summer, which is why we have taken swift and robust action now.

"Our stance is very clear that anyone who compromises the safety and security of airports in London can expect a strong response from officers or security staff.

"Airports are complex operating environments which is why we are working closely with them, agencies and other partners on this operation."

In response to the wave of arrests, a Just Stop Oil spokesman said: "It isn't a massive surprise.

"I think it speaks volumes when we've got a police force cracking down on non-violent Just Stop Oil supporters in this way.

"The people enacting criminal damage on an unimaginable scale against all of us - oil company executives and the politicians that they've bought, basically - when is it that those folks are going to face the full force of the law?"

Asked about the justification for planning to target airports during the key summer holiday period, the spokesman said: "In normal times, that kind of disruption would be entirely unacceptable.

"But you can't really disassociate what we're potentially planning on doing from the reasons why."

He added that disruption is necessary because people are "dropping dead around the world" from extreme heat, and "tipping points" are being passed.