Anti-war protesters break into airfield and cockpit of US military transport

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Anti-war protesters break into airfield and cockpit of US military transport


Key quote "We have been working closely with the operator of Prestwick airport for some time on the issue of security at the site. These alleged breaches are of concern and further talks were held today between myself and representatives of the airport. We have asked that they undertake a full security review and we will support them by providing expert help." - assistant chief constable Ian Learmonth of Strathclyde Police

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POLICE ordered a security review at Prestwick airport yesterday after anti-war protesters boarded a US military aircraft unchallenged.

Three members of the Trident Ploughshares group climbed on board a Hercules C130 transport plane, one of whom sat in the plane's cockpit.

They were arrested by police along with five others who were stopped elsewhere at the airport.

The latest security breach came less than 24 hours after four people were arrested when they broke through a security fence and got onto the Ayrshire airport's runway at 12:45am on Sunday.

Trident Ploughshares is protesting against the transport of arms to Israel. A political row broke out after two US flights carrying missiles to Tel Aviv landed at Prestwick last week.

George Bush, the US president, later apologised to Tony Blair for the move, but the Prime Minister in turn denied the UK had acted inappropriately.

The group in yesterday's protest used an airport map downloaded from the internet and bolt cutters to get through the airport's perimeter fence at 3am.

David Mackenzie, a spokesman for the group, said that once inside, they headed for a cluster of eight to ten military aircraft nearby.

Mr Mackenzie said the trio, Marcus Armstrong, 46, from Milton Keynes, Chris Bluemel, 35, from Southampton, and Angie Zelter, 55, from Norfolk, had approached the most accessible looking plane and managed to clamber aboard.

Describing themselves as "war crime detectives", they searched for evidence of weapons, but found the aircraft was being used to transport troops after spotting a number of kitbags.

Mr Mackenzie said Ms Zelter was confronted by a "slightly agitated" aircraft engineer who told them, "You should not be here folks".

However, he said she had "calmed him down" by saying they were taking part in a peaceful protest and would cause no trouble.

Meanwhile, Mr Armstrong was able to reach the plane's cockpit, where he sat at the controls and read an aircraft manual.

Mr Mackenzie said the group spoke to him by mobile phone during their half hour aboard the Hercules before police arrived after the alarm was raised by the engineer. He said officers had been very calm and arrested the group without any trouble being caused.

"Everything was cool," Ms Zelter had told him, although he said further mobile phone communication proved difficult because she was then handcuffed, put in a police van and taken with the other two to Saltcoats police station.

Trident Ploughshares said four other protesters were arrested at around the same time - Sarah Lasenby, 68, from Oxford, Douglas Shaw, 56, and Jean Oliver 48, both from Biggar, and Matt Bury, 50, from Somerset.

Mr Mackenzie said he thought they were in the same area of the airport and were also seeking to board aircraft to check for weapons. They were taken to Kilmarnock police station.

An eighth protester, Olivia Agate, from Skipton, Yorkshire, believed to have been the driver for the second group, was later arrested.

All eight, along with the four arrested early on Sunday, are expected to appear at Ayr Sheriff Court today.

Ian Learmonth, assistant chief constable, operations, for Strathclyde Police, said: "We have been working closely with the operator of Prestwick airport for some time on the issue of security at the site.

"These alleged breaches are of concern and further talks were held today between myself and representatives of the airport.

"We have asked that they undertake a full security review and we will support them by providing expert help."

However, an airport spokesman said: "We are satisfied our security measures are working effectively as these people were apprehended very quickly. Aviation security is tighter than that of most other industries and security at Prestwick airport is consistent with the measures in place at other major airports in the UK."

Yesterday's incidents were just the latest in a series of security breaches at the airport.

In July 2005, it played host to Air Force One, when Mr Bush, arrived for the G8 summit at Gleneagles Hotel. Yet less than a month earlier, three men broke into a cargo unit, threatened a member of staff with a knife and escaped with computer equipment valued at £275,000.

In February 2005, a journalist was able to walk across the runway and stand underneath a packed passenger jet.

It was claimed that the reporter had been able to walk unchallenged round the airport for more than ten minutes. The airport insisted the journalist had been in a restricted area for less than two minutes.