Four members of the climate activist group Just Stop Oil have been sentenced to prison for attempting to disrupt operations at Manchester Airport in the summer of 2024, according to the BBC.
The activists were arrested in August 2024 as they were heading toward the airport carrying tools including bolt cutters, angle grinders, glue, sand, and protest leaflets. Their plan was to cut through the perimeter fence and glue themselves to the runway to halt air traffic and draw attention to climate issues.
The court found them guilty of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. Each was sentenced to between 18 and 30 months in prison and fined £2,000. According to Manchester police, one of the activists admitted during her arrest that she regretted the failure of the protest.
In recent months, Just Stop Oil has made headlines with other controversial actions, including splashing orange paint on the U.S. Embassy building in London and defacing the grave of British naturalist Charles Darwin at Westminster Abbey. However, in April, the group announced it was ending its campaign of direct action.
