London, September 6 (RHC)-- UK police have arrested at least seven Black Lives Matter (BLM) activists in connection to a protest that forced authorities to cancel all flights at the London City Airport.
The incident happened on Tuesday morning, when a number of BLM protesters blocked the airport's runway. An airport spokesperson told reporters: "The runway is currently closed due to protesters on site. Police are present and we will resume normal operations as soon as possible."
The protest cancelled all flights to Zurich, Geneva, and Guernsey. All incoming traffic were also diverted to other airports. According to the Evening Standard, the demonstrators reportedly used a boat to cross the Royal Docks river and reach the tarmac.
The Black Lives Matter movement was formed in the United States, after the acquittal of the white officer who shot dead unarmed Black teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012. In early August, nationwide BLM protests were held in the UK, to mark the fifth anniversary of the death of Mark Duggan, who was shot by police.
The 29-year-old Duggan was shot dead by British police in August 2011 in his home town of Tottenham when 11 armed officers stopped a minicab he was in on suspicion of possessing an illegal firearm. Evidence suggests there was no weapon found on Duggan, but a handgun hidden in a sock was discovered four meters away from his body -- possibly planted by police to provide an excuse for the shooting.
