press panic and vitriol over Heathrow 'threat' Archived Message Posted by Ian M on April 20, 2019, 10:29 am, in reply to "XR pink boat removed from Oxford St :(" from the sun, more here: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=extinction+rebellion+heathrow&t=ffsb&atb=v85-1&ia=web https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8891580/extinction-rebellion-protest-london-shut-heathrow-easter/ 'EASTER GETAWAY THREAT Extinction Rebellion eco-warriors plot to shut down HEATHROW tomorrow as millions start Easter Getaway Activists - who have already caused chaos across the capital by blocking landmarks for the past four days - said they were 'raising the bar' to target the busiest airport in the UK ahead of the long weekend By Brittany Vonow 18th April 2019, 2:51 pm Updated: 18th April 2019, 6:28 pm By Brittany Vonow Invalid Date, EXTINCTION Rebellion eco-warriors are plotting to shut down Heathrow Airport tomorrow as millions get ready for their Easter holidays. Activists - who have already caused chaos across the capital by blocking landmarks for the past four days - said they were "raising the bar" to target the busiest airport in the UK ahead of the long weekend. Extinction Rebellion protesters are carried from Oxford Circus as part of the police operation to move on demonstrators Dan Charity - The Sun 9 Extinction Rebellion protesters are carried from Oxford Circus as part of the police operation to move on demonstrators Robin Boardman appeared on Sky to outline Extinction Rebellion's 'demands' before storming off 9 Robin Boardman appeared on Sky to outline Extinction Rebellion's 'demands' before storming off In internal messages seen by the Sun Online, protesters were told: "Tomorrow we raise the bar. We are going to shut down Heathrow." Rebels - who have already blocked Waterloo Bridge, Vauxhall Bridge and Oxford Circus in four days of illegal demos this week - vowed to "swarm" the airport. The group described the dramatic new tactic as an "escalation strategy". The plot threatens to throw the Easter plans of 800,000 passengers expected to travel through the airport into chaos tomorrow. Extinction Rebellion spokesman Robin Boardman - the former public schoolboy who stormed off Sky News after host Adam Boulton called him "middle class and self-indulgent" yesterday - said: "This will be standard swarming process. If there are lots of us, there will be a low risk of arrest. "We are all going to face pushback on this. We hope, together, we can recognise the necessity of this action and communicate that necessity to our friends, our loved ones, and the general public." There is a deep remorse for those whose holiday and family plans will be disrupted tomorrow Extinction Rebellion Self-professed "poet" Boardman acknowledged it would hit families holiday plans - but said the shutdown was "necessary". He said: "There is a deep remorse for those whose holiday and family plans will be disrupted tomorrow. It is not our intention to cause further separation. "However, the aviation industry needs to be targeted and we are all aware of the deep, structural change that needs to come." The messages also thanked the protesters for their efforts to shut down the capital for the past week. Organisers said: "Over the last week, we have listened to the concerns of the movement and we can assure you that, as we test our escalation strategy on the ground, we are adapting and changing our carefully designed plan. We thank you for all your wisdom and guidance on this." Man starts crying as he reveals Extinction Rebellion protesters could ruin proposal in Paris after threats Heathrow will be targeted Eco-warrior, Robin Boardman, storms off Sky News interview after Adam Boulton calls him 'middle class and self-indulgent' for Extinction Rebellion protest It comes as 10million Brits are set to hit the road this weekend. But the protests have left holiday-makers stressed and nervous as they wait to see what will happen at the airport - which was one of the first to sign up to the goals of the Paris Agreement. One man was left in tears as he revealed he had put months into organising a romantic proposal in Paris this weekend - which could now be ruined by climate change protesters targeting the airport. The man, only known as Richard, told LBC Radio he was "shaking" after hearing the news. He said: "I’ve put months of preparation into taking my girlfriend to Paris. "I went over at Christmas to look at all the hotels. I’ve spent months preparing for this, they’re going to ruin it!" A Heathrow Airport spokesperson said: "We are working with the authorities to address any threat of protests which could disrupt the airport. "While we respect the right to peaceful protest and agree with the need to act on climate change, we don’t agree that passengers should have their well-earned Easter Break holiday plans with family and friends disrupted. Passengers should contact their airlines for up to date information on their journeys." POLICE RESPONSE A Metropolitan Police statement said it had "strong plans" in place to deal with any planned demonstration at Heathrow Airport. The force said: "We are aware of information that suggests the protesters will carry out a demonstration on Friday, 19 April in the vicinity of Heathrow Airport. "We have strong plans in place that will enable us to deploy a significant number of officers to Heathrow and take firm action against any protester seeking to cause disruption at this location by committing criminal offences such as obstruction of the highway. "We have requested mutual aid from other police forces to support our operation. "The airport is part of our national infrastructure and we will not allow the illegal activities of protesters to cause further disruption and misery to thousands of travellers, many of them families, over Easter. "We would urge any protester planning to attend Heathrow to strongly reconsider." ARRESTS CONTINUE Police today confirmed more than 400 people had been arrested over the ongoing protests. It has been suggested the sheer volume of protesters arrested have put pressure on police, with activists themselves claiming cells in the capital are full and "operating on a one-in, one-out capacity". Some have even claimed they were taken as far away as Luton and Brighton as police struggled with demand. But police refused to comment, saying that had "contingency plans in place" should they run out of space. Activists glued themselves to a train at Canary Wharf yesterday in a bid to stop the Tube running and drivers have been stuck in traffic jams for more than an hour this morning after the protesters blocked Vauxhall Bridge. Among those at Oxford Circus include actress Emma Thompson. The protest has already disrupted the lives of more than 500,000 hard-working Londoners and cost businesses £12million and counting - with Extinction Rebellion threatening to keep it going for two more weeks. MOST READ IN NEWS Exclusive COCKTAIL PARTY Labour's Diane Abbott breaks the law by swigging £2 can of mojito on train Exclusive MACHETE MENACE Driver kills pedestrian before threatening OAP villagers with a machete Exclusive 'SURVIVAL SEX' Universal Credit left me so skint I sold £20 sex to married man on Xmas Day MEANWHILE IN SPAIN… Spain downpours spark ‘orange alert’ weather warning as UK basks in 25C COST OF LIVING Man, 21, who tried to kill himself wakes from coma to £70k medical bill SUICIDE PACT OAP couple killed themselves because they didn’t want to live apart It comes after Black Lives Matter got onto the runway at London City Airport in 2016, causing havoc. The group later said it had targeted the airport because of climate change’s disproportionate effect on black people. Gatwick Airport was also recently thrown into chaos when a drone was spotted flying over airspace in the days before Christmas last year. Heathrow Airport has been contacted for comment. Extinction rebellion climate change protesters warned they would target Heathrow Airport from tomorrow PAress Association 9 Extinction rebellion climate change protesters warned they would target Heathrow Airport from tomorrow Extinction Rebellion climate change protesters have vowed to continue camping out, despite police warning they would be arrested AFP or licensors 9 Extinction Rebellion climate change protesters have vowed to continue camping out, despite police warning they would be arrested Extinction Rebellion climate change protesters have been asked to swarm Heathrow Airport tomorrow as Easter holidays begin - pictured is a protester being removed from Oxford Circus Dan Charity - The Sun 9 Extinction Rebellion climate change protesters have been asked to swarm Heathrow Airport tomorrow as Easter holidays begin - pictured is a protester being removed from Oxford Circus Emma Thompson is with us, #ExtinctionRebellion in Oxford Circus pic.twitter.com/Z5BKWGJuQ0 — Lambeth Green Party (@Lambethgp) April 18, 2019 One man lays on the ground to stop police from arresting him PAress Association 9 One man lays on the ground to stop police from arresting him A woman warned she had glue on her hand to avoid beind taken away PAress Association 9 A woman warned she had glue on her hand to avoid beind taken away Roads empty of cars as Extinction Rebellion campaigners occupy Parliament Square in London on a fourth day of protests London News Pictures 9 Roads empty of cars as Extinction Rebellion campaigners occupy Parliament Square in London on a fourth day of protests Oxford Circus was blocked on Wednesday, with the Extinction Rebellion climate change protests still going AFP or licensors 9 Oxford Circus was blocked on Wednesday, with the Extinction Rebellion climate change protests still going Westminster Extinction Rebellion protesters do Yoga in central London as they cause traffic chaos for millions' Message Thread: XR pink boat removed from Oxford St :( - Ian M April 20, 2019, 10:25 am press panic and vitriol over Heathrow 'threat' - Ian M April 20, 2019, 10:29 am Astonishing contrast, Ian: Your polished REAL journalism, then the Scumw hores' mind-sewage! NOM - Rhisiart Gwilym April 20, 2019, 10:42 am thx but it's not my reports, if that wasn't clear - Ian M April 20, 2019, 9:14 pm Hasn't Emma Thompson just flown in from Los Angeles? - SueC April 21, 2019, 12:07 am   Searching