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Review of security at London City after runway protest

Questions over security at London City airport have been raised after protestors occupied the runway paralysing operations for more than six hours yesterday.

An urgent security review was instigated after Black Lives Matter UK demonstrators caused disruption throughout the morning.

An airport spokesman said it would take “the necessary steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again”.

Almost 70 arriving flights and more than 60 departures had to be cancelled due to the protest. 

The activists chained themselves to a tripod in the middle of the runway after gaining access to the airport, possibly by using an inflatable boat from an adjoining dock.

Nine protestors were eventually arrested by police on suspicion of aggravated trespass, being unlawfully air-side and breaching airport bylaws.

The airport apologised to delayed passengers for the inconvenience caused.

The security breach at the Docklands airport came just over a year after 13 Plane Stupid activists cut through a fence at Heathrow and chained themselves together on a runway.

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