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London: Protesters breached tight security at Britain's parliament yesterday, getting on to the roof and unfurling banners protesting against government plans to expand London's Heathrow airport.
One of the banners hanging down the side of the building read "NO THIRD RUNWAY", while another read "BAA HQ", referring to the British Airports Authority which owns Heathrow. BAA is itself owned by Spain's Ferrovial.
The protest by anti-aviation group Plane Stupid coincided with the end of a public consultation on proposals to build a third runway at the world's busiest international airport.
Security at parliament was beefed up following the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States and tightened further after protesters hurled coloured flour at then Prime Minister Tony Blair in May 2004 while he was in the debating chamber.
Britain sought to tighten security again at public buildings after suicide bombers killed 52 people in London attacks.
Climate security
"This major breach of security is overshadowed by [Prime Minister] Gordon Brown's breach of climate security with these expansion plans," said Plane Stupid spokesman Malcolm Carroll.
"It shows the seriousness with which we treat these plans and the kind of direct action we are prepared to take," he said, threatening further disruption.
Carroll said five protesters, who were talking to police on the roof, had entered the main Westminster Hall on a guided tour, taken a lift and reached the roof via a fire escape.
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