Police arrest 15 climate activists for disrupting aviation operations at 8 airports
Swedish authorities have arrested about 15 climate activists at airports across the country on Sunday 31 October. Climate activists were arrested after protesting at airports, which caused disruptions to aviation operations and delays in flights, SVT Nyheter reported. The arrest took place at eight airports throughout Sweden. After the incident, the police initiated an investigation into the case and the Civil Aviation Administration has tightened security protocols everywhere.
Climate activists arrested in Sweden
Climate activists tried to stop some planes while protesting, and some of them tried to stop air traffic by gluing themselves to runways. SVT Nyheter quoted Fahlström at the Stockholm Police that they had seen two people in the area. Fahlström further mentioned that the people have been arrested and suspected of “airport sabotage”. During the house search that the police carried out in the area, two more people were arrested. At Malmö Airport, a woman who had entered the escape was arrested by the police.
Later, the police received information about people who had entered Arlanda and Landvetter as well as airports in Halmstad and Växjö. The police arrested a man and woman at Växjö airport after they stuck their hands on the runway. A man in Kalmar who entered the track was arrested by the police. Furthermore, four more people were arrested on board two planes after they tried to stop a plane from taking off at Landvetter Airport and Halmstad City Airport.
The police later arrested another person on the runway at Ängelholm Airport while he was trying to glue his hands. The Swedish police have initiated an investigation into the case. Both Växjö and Bromma Airport were closed to air traffic after the incident, but now they are open and in operation.
This was told by Klas Ögren, an official on standby at the Swedish Civil Aviation Administration SVT News that they have increased the security of protected objects. However, Ögren did not reveal details about exactly what the protected objects were. Climate activists in the Extinction Rebellion Sweden network have taken responsibility for the actions. They also told SVT Nyheter that a total of 15 people have been arrested in connection with the incident.