Four Just Stop Oil protesters have today been arrested near Manchester Airport in a police swoop.

Three women – aged 21, 30, and 53 – and a man, 23, have been detained by officers from Greater Manchester Police‘s Specialist Operations Branch on suspicion of conspiring to cause a public nuisance. 

They have been taken into custody where they will be quizzed by officers. 

They were also found to be in possession of items that the force believes would have been used to cause damage and significant disruption to the airport and its operations. 

Chief Superintendent Mark Dexter said the arrests had ‘no doubt prevented a determined and targeted attack which would have brought significant delays and upset to those hard-working people heading off for their summer holidays’.

Four Just Stop Oil protesters have been arrested near Manchester Airport (pictured) in a police swoop

Three women and a man have been detained by officers from Greater Manchester Police’s Specialist Operations Branch on suspicion of conspiring to cause a public nuisance (stock image)

‘We have been working hard with colleagues from Manchester Airport and police forces across the country, sharing intelligence, with the common goal to prevent these disruptive and targeted attacks on our airports,’ he said. 

‘We have a duty of care to all members of the public. The right to protest must be respected, but we have a duty to balance that right against the rights of the public to go about their lives without being subject to unacceptable disruption and will undertake swift and decisive action to arrest those intent on causing disturbances.

‘Anyone who sees anything suspicious or who has concerns about safety or security should speak to an officer or a member of the airport staff.’

Activists from the environmental group have seen their attempts in recent weeks to unleash a ‘summer of chaos’ at airports across Europe foiled by officers. 

They have been targeting airports in recent weeks in the campaign named ‘Oil Kills’. Just Stop Oil said 21 groups across 12 countries have taken action at 18 airports so far. 

Last week, a group of six demonstrators tried to block the security screening zone at London Heathrow ‘s Terminal Five.

They sat or stood holding signs saying ‘oil kills’ and ‘sign the treaty’ in front of the barriers to enter the area for departing passengers – but they were dragged away by police officers.

AUGUST 1: Just Stop Oil protesters block the security screening area at Heathrow Terminal Five 

AUGUST 1: Just Stop Oil protesters block the security screening area at Heathrow Terminal Five

AUGUST 1: Police officers remove a Just Stop Oil protester at London Heathrow Airport

AUGUST 1: Just Stop Oil protesters hold ‘Oil Kills’ signs as they block the security gates

AUGUST 1: Police officers remove a Just Stop Oil protester at London Heathrow Airport

JULY 30: Phoebe Plummer, 22, and Jane Touil, 58, spray orange paint on departure boards at Heathrow’s Terminal Five in another protest at the airport

JULY 30: Phoebe Plummer is arrested on suspicion of criminal damage at Heathrow Airport

JULY 30: Phoebe Plummer is removed by police at Heathrow after the group’s latest stunt

JULY 29: Just Stop Oil supporters block departure gates at Gatwick Airport in another protest

JULY 29: The seven Just Stop Oil protesters at Gatwick earlier this week were arrested

Heathrow confirmed all the protesters were ‘swiftly’ removed and there was no disruption or damage. 

There was no apparent impact on flights, and Scotland Yard said seven people were arrested on suspicion of public order offences.

Just Stop Oil claimed the seven arrested people included six who were blocking the gates and then a further person filming the action. The group added that another ten people were arrested on public transport.

It comes after another protest in the same Heathrow terminal two days earlier saw two Just Stop Oil activists arrested after they sprayed orange paint on departure boards.

The protest followed another at London Gatwick the day before when eight Just Stop Oil supporters were arrested for blocking departure gates.