Black Lives Matter claim London City Airport shutdown

Activist group Black Lives Matter UK have claimed responsibility for a protest that has shut down London City Airport, which they described as "an airport designed for the wealthy".

In a statement, the group said: "Black people are the first to die, not the first to fly, in this racist climate crisis.

"The action was taken in order to highlight the UK's environmental impact on the lives of black people locally and globally.

"Recently London City Airport was given approval to expand its capacity, a move that consigns the local community in Newham to further deterioration of their environment.

"When black people in Britain are 28% more likely to be exposed to air pollution than their white counterparts, we know that environmental inequality is a racist crisis."

Images taken by the group allegedly show the protesters congregating at London City Airport on Tuesday morning.