Just Stop Oil targets planes at Stansted Airport
Just Stop Oil activists posted a video to social media site X after they painted private jets at Stansted Airport
Two people have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after appearing to spray orange paint over private jets at Stansted Airport, where protest group Just Stop Oil claimed Taylor Swift's plane is parked.
Essex Police said it detained two women – named by the group as Jennifer Kowalski, 28, and Cole Macdonald, 22 – after they gained access to a private area of an airfield and were “causing damage to two aircraft”.
The activists entered the airfield and painted two private jets using fire extinguishers filled with orange paint, the environmental group said.
The eco-group shared a video on X, writing: "Jennifer and Cole cut the fence into the private airfield at Stansted where Taylor Swift's jet is parked, demanding an emergency treaty to end fossil fuels by 2030."
Police said two people had been arrested by officers, who were called at 5.10am.
Runway operations were briefly suspended but no flights were disrupted, said the airport.
A 22-year-old woman from Brighton, and a 28-year-old woman from Dumbarton, were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and interference with the use or operation of national infrastructure.
It came less than 24 hours after the group's attack of Stonehenge where two activists were arrested, after orange paint was sprayed on the ancient stones ahead of the summer solstice.
The incident at Stansted happened shortly after 5am when protesters cut through a wire security fence with an angle grinder and attacked the aircraft using fire extinguishers filled with orange paint, said the group.
They said on X: "80% of the population have never taken a flight. Just 1% of people cause 50% of global aviation emissions.
"Private jet users are responsible for up to 14x as much carbon emissions compared with a commercial flight."
A spokesman for Stansted Airport said: “Shortly after 5am, Essex Police arrested two protesters who had entered the private aviation area of the airfield, away from the runway and main passenger terminal.
“As a precaution, runway operations were suspended for a short period, but no flights were disrupted, and the airport and flights are operating as normal.”
Essex Police confirmed Swift's private jet, which Just Stop Oil said had landed at Stansted “mere hours before”, was not at the airport.
Ch Supt Simon Anslow of Essex Police said: “I would like to reassure passengers and the wider public that we are well prepared and resourced to deal with incidents of this nature.
“Almost immediately after we were made aware of this incident, which took place away from the main passenger terminal, we were on the scene.
“We maintain a constant presence at the airport and this presence will be heightened over the summer period.
“We have a good working relationship with Manchester Airport Group and Stansted Airport to ensure you can go about your travels with minimal impact.
“We are not anti protest but we will always take action where criminal acts take place.”
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