Daniel Knorr, 22, Margaret Reid, 53, Ella Ward, 21, Noah Crane, 19, and Indigo Rumbelow, 30, were arrested on Monday in connection with a plot to disrupt passengers at Manchester Airport.
They were found to be in possession of items that Greater Manchester Police believed would have been used to 'cause damage and significant disruption to the airport and its operations', the force said.
The five protesters were all remanded until at least their next appearance on September 10.
Ella, Daniel, Indigo and Margaret were all arrested in the early hours of yesterday morning near Manchester Airport, Just Stop Oil said.
Noah was arrested later in the day from an address in Birmingham, after police seized a phone he allegedly purchased on August 3, the group added.
Airport Disruptions and Protests
Activists from the environmental group have seen their attempts in recent weeks to unleash a 'summer of chaos' at airports across Europe foiled by officers.
They have been targeting airports in recent weeks in the campaign named 'Oil Kills'. Just Stop Oil said 21 groups across 12 countries have taken action at 21 airports so far.
Statements from the Activists
Speaking before her imprisonment Indigo Rumbelow, 30, from Swansea, said: 'Just Stop Oil supporters have been taking part in an International Uprising for a Fossil Fuel Treaty, because we have an international crisis and we need an international solution. We're in a dangerously hot world and our leaders are hell-bent on making it worse.'
'The climate crisis threatens everything we know and love, yet our so-called leaders are continuing to make the problem worse, the courts are protecting fossil fuel profits and imprisoning those who stand-up to make change, whilst the media is still grappling to tell the truth.
'Many of my friends have been sent to prison, but we will not be deterred. Nothing will stop us trying to protect our families and our communities from the danger imposed on all of us through continued oil, gas and coal burning.'
Daniel Knorr, 22, from Oxford said: 'We were not born to stand-by and do nothing whilst hundreds of millions of lives are thrown into the furnace.
'To be human is to care. This is terrifying but we need to be brave. Courage is not the absence of fear, it is to drive forwards towards what's right, despite your fear.'
'We stand to lose everything if our government continues to fuel the climate crisis. It would be completely self defeating to not be in resistance at this time in history.
'Our leaders must enact a Fossil Fuel Treaty to phase down oil and gas if we are to stand any hope.'
Noah Crane, 19, from Norwich said: 'When I think about the situation we're in, I realise we are faced with a choice; we can either sit back and watch as governments allow the deaths of hundreds of millions of people to protect profit, or we can do everything in our power to prevent that. When I think about it that way, it's really a no-brainer.'
'I'm not scared of going to prison. What I am scared of is what will happen if we don't act on this crisis. The world is in a position where there is no threat they can make towards me, that outweighs the consequences of inaction.'
Just Stop Oil's Response
A Just Stop Oil spokesperson said: 'In the wake of the four hottest days in recorded history during the past two weeks, governments are still failing to take action that is commensurate with the scale of the crisis humanity faces.
'Meanwhile, those demanding our leaders take necessary action, are being given increasingly draconian sentences by those in the judiciary who are complicit with the crimes against humanity, being perpetrated by governments and corporations.
'It's time world leaders stood up to fossil capital and enact a fossil fuel treaty to Just Stop Oil by 2030.'
Previous Just Stop Oil Actions
Last week, a group of six demonstrators tried to block the security screening zone at London Heathrow's Terminal Five.
They sat or stood holding signs saying 'oil kills' and 'sign the treaty' in front of the barriers to enter the area for departing passengers - but they were dragged away by police officers.
Earlier Arrest of Four Activists
Three woman, aged 21, 30, and 53, and a man aged 23, were found with items police said would have been used to cause "damage and significant disruption" to airport operations.
Ch Supt Mark Dexter said the arrests prevented a "determined and targeted attack which would have brought significant delays".
The four activists have been held in police custody for questioning, the force said.
A Just Stop Oil spokeswoman said its four supporters had been planning to take nonviolent action as part of its campaign to end the extraction and burning of fossil fuels by 2030.
They would "accept any legal consequences" following their arrests, she added.
Ch Supt Dexter, Greater Manchester Police's head of specialist operations, said the right to protest had to be balanced with the rights of the public to "go about their lives without being subject to unacceptable disruption".
He said police had been working with the airport and other forces to share intelligence to prevent "disruptive and targeted attacks on our airports".
Recent Just Stop Oil Protests
Just Stop Oil supporters have stormed Heathrow again in another protest against fossil fuels at the airport within days.
Seven protesters were arrested in Terminal 5 at the busy airport this morning after blocking one of the security gates as holidaymakers queued up.
However, the action failed to disrupt flights as travel continued business as usual, Heathrow Airport confirmed.
It comes after two activists were dragged away on Tuesday after orange paint was sprayed inside Terminal 5.
Further Airport Disruptions and Travel Disruptions
But some flights are cancelled at London airports today, including at Heathrow, Gatwick and also at City Airport as summer holiday travel in the UK was off to another eventful start.
If you were planning to hit the road today, the motoring expert RAC said drivers should delay their journey until the thunderstorm set to hit the UK passes.
All lanes have now reopened after the car fire between J13 and J12 near Heathrow Airport in Staines.
However, drivers were warned of residual delays of around 20 minutes and four miles of congestion.
Part of the Northern line was suspended briefly after a fire alert at Finchley Central.
There are minor delays between High Barnet, Mill Hill East and Battersea Power Station via Charing Cross, the latest TfL travel status shows.
If you’re travelling to Stansted this afternoon, prepare for delays as some tracks between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport are blocked.
CrossCountry, Greater Anglia and Stansted Express trains are affected at least until 3.30pm due to a fault with the signalling system.
Cancellatoins, delays of up to 25 minutes or revisions are possible.
Here are all the affected routes.
South Western Railway trains have been hit with major disruption after a trespasser on tracks today.
‘Due to trespass on the railway between Fulwell and Shepperton all lines are blocked,’ SWR said.
Trains between the stations could be cancelled, delayed or revised, with disruption expected until 2pm.
📢Until further notice the following alterations will be necessary:– London Waterloo to Shepperton services will run as far as and restart from Fulwell back to Waterloo.🎫To assist you with your journey your ticket will be accepted, at no extra cost to yourself, on the…
Drivers were warned of chaos on the M25 after a car fire near Heathrow Airport.
The incident was reported on the anticlockwise carriageway between J13 (Staines-upon-Thames) and J12 (M3 Surrey) at about 10am.
Only one lane out of five is open, and there is congestion up to Heathrow Airport, the AA said.
National Highways warned of 60-minute delays and five-mile queues.
Lanes 1, 2, 3, and 4 (of 5) are CLOSED on the #M25 anti-clockwise between J13 #Staines-upon-Thames and J12 #M3 #Surrey due to a vehicle fire.NH Traffic Officers, @SurreyPolice and SurreyFRS are on scene.There are delays of 60 minutes and approx. 5 miles of congestion. pic.twitter.com/YpdUQkbaIs
Another Just Stop Oil Protest at Heathrow
Climate activists have stormed Heathrow Terminal 5 again – a second protest at the airport within days.
Six protesters were seen standing with ‘Oil kills’ signs in front of the automatic security gates.
But the action did not cause major disruption as holidaymakers were able to get to security through another gate.
The Met Police confirmed that seven Just Stop Oil protesters were arrested on suspicion of public order offences after they blocked the search area.
Heathrow Airport said the protest did not affect flights in T5 and ‘all involved were immediately removed from the airport.’
A spokesperson for the airport told Metro.co.uk: ‘Unlawful and irresponsible protest activity is not the way forward and will not be tolerated.
‘Our priority will always be to maintain the safety of passengers and colleagues, and we’ll continue to work closely with our partners and the police in taking proportionate action to protect travel plans this summer.’
Airport Cancellations and Travel Disruptions
Some flights have also been axed at the City Airport in central London.
Here are the flights that appeared as cancelled on Flightradar24.
ITA Airways AZ217 at 7.40am to Milan
British Airways BA8765 at 11.45am to Zurich
British Airways BA8706 at 3.50pm to Edinburgh
National Rail has also given a heads up about the potential thunderstorm forecast in the UK later today, coupled with warm and humid weather.
While there is currently no weather related disruption on train lines, National Rail explained what issues could become a problem in extreme weather.
If you’re travelling by rail today, it is worth checking the journey planner with your train company or National Rail, and to carry a water bottle with you.
Passengers on the Docklands Light Railway were warned of reduced service ahead of the weekend.
The latest TfL status update shows that the line will have less trains today, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
TfL said that a ‘reduced service operates on the entire network.’
Travel Advice for Thunderstorms
While the thunderstorm is not set to bring an end to the warm temperatures, it is forecast to arrive with heavy downpours.
The motoring expert RAC warned that sudden downpours could quickly turn roads dangerous.
Alice Simpson, RAC’s breakdown spokesperson, said: ‘Sudden downpours have the potential to quickly make the roads far more dangerous places – a fact illustrated by official figures that show an average of 1,660 people are killed or seriously injured every year as a result of bad weather making roads slippery.’
🚗 Using the roads tomorrow? Summer thunderstorms are forecast.â›ˆï¸ â˜” Heavy rain is expected on Thursday 1 August, which could lead to travel disruption. â›ˆï¸ For information on driving safely in adverse weather visit: âž¡ï¸ https://t.co/rlqZV7y5xD#WeatherReady #TRIP pic.twitter.com/UUCnXpriQJ
If possible, drivers should ‘delay their journeys until the storm pass,’ Alice said.
Other key things to remember before travelling by car in thunderstorms include sticking to major roads, reducing speeds and always keeping a firm hold of the steering wheel.
To avoid a breakdown, drivers should check oil and coolant levels when the engine is cold, and to top up if levels are low, the RAC advised.
Flight Cancellations
A number of flights appeared as cancelled on the airports’ departure boards as passengers woke up to a thunder weather warning this morning.
Here are all the flights hit by cancellations according to Flightradar24.
Heathrow Airport
United UA3908 at 6.30am to New York EWR
British Airways BA127 at 2.05pm to Doha
British Airways BA225 at 4.05pm to New Orleans
Lufthansa LH911 at 4.30pm to Frankfurt
Swiss LX325 at 5.10pm to Zurich
Virgin Atlantic VS41 at 5.20pm to San Fransisco
MEA ME204 at 10pm to Beirut
London Gatwick
British Airways BA2574 at 6.25am to Nice
British Airways BA2530 at 10.20am to Jersey
British Airways BA2720 at 2pm to Dubrovnik
British Airways BA2273 at 3.05pm to New York JFK
British Airways BA2642 at 3.50pm to Malaga
Have you been affected? Please contact [email protected].
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Earlier Just Stop Oil Actions
Just Stop Oil protesters sprayed orange paint metres away from travellers at Heathrow Airport on Tuesday, 30 July as they covered departure boards in orange.
The group said they staged the action "to demand governments establish a fossil fuel treaty, to end the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030."
Two people were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after orange paint was sprayed on passenger information screens and on the floor inside Terminal 5, the Metropolitan Police said.
It comes after Just Stop Oil sat on the floor at Gatwick airport as they attempted to block a security entrance.
