London (AFP)

In the terminal, on board, and even on the cabin: the ecologist activists of Extinction Rebellion (XR) directed Thursday their shocks actions against the London City airport.

The movement, born in 2018 in the United Kingdom, which advocates civil disobedience to compel governments to act in the face of the climate crisis, launched Monday a series of actions designed to strike the spirits by disrupting the functioning of capitals around the world resulting in hundreds of arrests.

After planting their tents around Westminster, blocking Rue de Rivoli in Paris or organizing a funeral march in Manhattan, Extinction Rebellion planned to occupy London City Airport for three days. On the first day Thursday, he was pleased to have "massively" disrupted the traffic. For its part, a spokesman for the airport judged these disturbances "minimal".

A British Airways flight to Amsterdam was canceled because a passenger managed to climb onto the roof of the aircraft. According to Extinction Rebellion, this is former Irish Paralympic cyclist James Brown, visually impaired and bronze medalist at the 2012 London Olympics.

Another flight was delayed by a passenger who embarked on a speech on the climate at the time of takeoff, an action filmed and relayed on social networks. Aer Lingus confirmed that a passenger on this flight "was evacuated from the aircraft after disruptive behavior on board".

Police said they arrested several people outside London City Airport and one in a plane on the runway.

"Targeting an airport and hindering travelers in this way is totally unacceptable and irresponsible (...) People who break the law are and will continue to be arrested and prosecuted if necessary," police said in a statement.

London City Airport had called travelers to check their flight status before going to the airport and warned they would have to present their boarding passes before entering the airport because of the risk of events.

- "Place" in the cells -

On Thursday morning activists sat around the terminal, chanting or chanting slogans, while others stuck their hands to the ground.

"The goal is to highlight how frequent flyers and those who take business flights are harming the planet," said an activist, Catherine, 56, who is a woman activist. "Over the years, we have demonstrated, signed petitions, written letters and nothing has changed, so we really feel now that we have to do something different."

Two activists climbed onto the roof of the airport entrance, where a pink banner was hung proclaiming "Our fragile planet is dying"

The activists of Extinction Rebellion consider incompatible the extension of this airport with the climate crisis and the "ecological emergency" declared by the Parliament, as well as the commitments of the government to reach in 2050 a carbon neutral balance. In the United Kingdom, as in other countries, Extinction Rebellion demands that this goal be advanced to 2025.

"I decided to join them because I think their cause is right, (...) people are flying and the cost to the planet is unimaginable," Steve Phillips, a leader, told AFP. 66-year-old retiree.

Of the five airports in the British capital, London City, which has a runway, is the closest to the city center. It has seen 4.8 million passengers in 2018.

Parallel to this action, activists occupied a station of the Docklands Light Railway line while others protested in central London, in Trafalgar Square, dressed in red suits and face made up in white.

London police said Thursday they have arrested a total of 842 people in recent days in connection with the mobilization of Extinction Rebellion in London, including 29 prosecuted for various offenses. She has published a video in which a leader explains that there is "room for everyone" in her cells.

© 2019 AFP