BRITAIN:Six people were injured and three arrested last night after clashes between police and climate-change protesters near Heathrow airport. No disruption of the airport or major roads was reported but skirmishes between more than 1,600 police and some 1,400 protesters continued into the night.
The protests at the aviation industry's growing carbon emissions and attempts to expand Heathrow airport were expected to continue until midday today.
Protesters accused the police of using unwarranted force to contain them. Police with truncheons tackled about 100 protesters heading for the offices of the airport operator BAA.
Five people were treatedfor head injuries. "It was an unprovoked, unwarranted attack," said one spokesman at the protest camp. Last night, the police said no injuries to protesters had been reported but a policeman had been knocked from his horse. An activist was arrested in connection with the incident.
The day of direct action began at noon with a peaceful march to the centre of Harmondsworth, a village which will be affected by the proposed third runway. It was led by people carrying a large sign: "We are armed only with peer-reviewed science."
Speakers including Guardian newspaper columnist George Monbiot and Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington John McDonnell addressed a crowd of about 300 locals and protesters.
They used a microphone and amplifier powered by a stationary bicycle. Mr McDonnell criticised his government's policy. "What we are here for today is first of all to say to this government there will be no third runway," he said.
Trouble centred on the BAA offices one kilometre (more than half a mile) away on Bath Road, where several hundred protesters tried to target aviation companies and lay siege to BAA's headquarters .
Using carnival and theatre, with people dressed as airline staff, clowns, monks, clergy and businessmen, they were mainly contained in the building's car park. Police brought in horses and reinforcements, but there was little disruption of traffic.
Protesters leaving the camp to try to get to the BAA building were met by a riot in a field of oilseed rape. Skirmishes continued for 40 minutes with the police chasing and corralling more than 100 people.
More than 300 locals marched to object to the third runway. "We said all along that we had no intention of stopping people going on holiday," said a camp spokeswoman.
There have been 44 arrests since the camp opened eight days ago. The police said last night 1,600-1,800 officers will stay at the protest camp until midday today. BAA said the protests had not affected flights or trade at the airport.