Today (Wednesday, 24 July) the Met has prevented widespread disruption by JSO at Heathrow Airport. JSO has previously stated they wanted to disrupt national aviation and planned to target Heathrow this morning. Internationally other environmental activists have taken action at a number of European airports with significant impact.

As part of an intelligence-led operation the Met arrested seven people at Heathrow Airport and three more people at other locations. They all remain in custody and have been arrested for conspiracy to interfere with key national infrastructure. Items recovered during the operation include cutting gear and glue.

It is believed JSO intended to gain access to the airside environment through the secure perimeter fence and doing so would have led to the suspension of flight operations causing a major impact to international aviation.

Chief Superintendent Ian Howells, who led the operation, said: "These arrests are an excellent example of coordinated action by colleagues from across the Met to prevent the significant disruption intended by JSO.

"This planned action was extremely reckless and would have represented a real risk to the travelling public. Had it not been for these arrests, flights would have been suspended impacting thousands of passengers and businesses including hard working families going on their summer holidays. It could also have caused serious danger to passengers and aircraft with flights being diverted and cancelled.

"This type of action is completely unacceptable. The Met will continue to work with our national policing colleagues, airport operators and the wider aviation sector to prevent such criminal acts and to safeguard the travelling public. Anyone who compromises the safety and security of our airports will face the full force of the law."

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