Britain: Riot police attack Heathrow Airport protest

The week-long camp was located between the M4 motorway and the airport’s northern perimeter in west London, between the villages of Sipson and Harlington. Protesters finally left the camp on Monday after a final 24 hours of events that included “direct action” protests at several sites around the country, including the Sizewell nuclear power plant in Suffolk and the entrance to the BP oil firm’s headquarters in London. Protesters also ended their occupation at the entrance to the headquarters of the British Airports Authority (BAA) near Heathrow.

Riot squads attacked protesters with truncheons as they headed from the camp site at around 3:00 p.m. Sunday and proceeded towards the headquarters of BAA, the owners of the airport. Many women and children were among the campaigners. Mounted police were also used to intimidate and surround a large group of protesters in a field near local residential housing.