Police arrest 27 Just Stop Oil organisers for ‘planning airport disruption’

Police have arrested 27 Just Stop Oil (JSO) protesters on suspicion of planning to cause widespread disruption at airports during the summer holidays.

Scotland Yard said a number of “key organisers” were detained in co-ordinated raids in 10 counties including Greater London, Oxford, Surrey, Norfolk, Manchester and West Yorkshire.

JSO had previously said it planned to disrupt summer holidays in a “sustained period of action”, warning that an attack on Stansted Airport last week, when two private jets were sprayed with orange paint, was just a “prelude”.

All the suspects were arrested under the Public Order Act, which makes it illegal to conspire to disrupt national infrastructure.

First arrests on Tuesday

The arrests began on Tuesday, when four people were held after “being identified at Gatwick Airport”, police said. They have since been released on bail.

The Met said all of those released on bail are subject to a condition which prohibits them travelling within 1km (0.6 miles) of any UK airport unless passing through by vehicle or public transport.

On Thursday evening, six people were arrested at a “publicly-advertised event” in an east London community centre promoting airport disruption, the Met said.

Among those held at the meeting were “several high-profile members of Just Stop Oil” believed to be key organisers of the alleged plot, police said.

In a post on social media, JSO claimed that the meeting was a public event and just a “soup night”.

The group added in a statement: “Over the last 12 hours the British state has acted unlawfully in detaining a total of at least 16 ordinary people sharing food at a community event and at their homes.

“Their only crime? They are Just Stop Oil supporters. Being a Just Stop Oil supporter is now enough to make you a suspect.

“Believing that no government has the right to tyrannise the entire world by encouraging the extraction and burning of fossil fuels, marks you out as a dangerous radical.”

Cricket protester arrested

Among those arrested was Daniel Knorr, who previously went on to the pitch and threw orange paint during a match between England and Australia at Lord’s Cricket Ground before being carried off the pitch by England wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow.

Another 17 people were arrested in raids in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Devon, Essex, Manchester, Surrey, Sussex, Norfolk and West Yorkshire.

Chief Supt Ian Howells, who led the operation, said: “We know Just Stop Oil is 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.”