Airport plot 'media smear'

Protesters are camping at Heathrow. Photo / Reuters

LONDON - Anti-climate change campaigners at Heathrow airport say they are the victims of a media smear campaign over reports that they planned to bring the airport to a standstill using hoax bomb threats.

A spokesman at the camp, where protesters are planning to spend the next week on the site of a proposed third Heathrow runway, accused airport operator BAA of being behind reports branding them as extremists bent on paralysing the airport.

The protesters are opposing the planned construction of a third runway and the greenhouse gases released by air travel.

They were confronted by police yesterday when up to 30 officers were blocked as they tried to enter the protest camp site.

Organisers said the surprise move by police was repelled by more than 100 demonstrators who raced to block officers from advancing into the camp.

- Independent