Heathrow airport to be 'shut down' by Extinction Rebellion protesters as home secretary urges police to use 'full force of law'

'We are in unprecedented times, and that calls for drastic measures,' says one activist

Climate campaigners taking part in the Extinction Rebellion (XR) protests are reportedly planning to "shut down" Heathrow airport on Friday following days of demonstrations in London that have led to nearly 500 arrests.

The Metropolitan Police will deploy a "significant number of officers" to the airport and the force said it would take "firm action against any protester seeking to cause disruption".

Heathrow said it was "working with the authorities" to mitigate possible disruption on Good Friday – a busy day for the airport at the start of the four-day weekend.

Sajid Javid, the home secretary, has meanwhile urged police to use the "full force of the law".

"Tomorrow we raise the bar. We are going to shut down Heathrow," read one reported WhatsApp message to XR supporters, which was leaked on social media.

The prospect of further climate protests at the west London transport hub came after four days of demonstrations at Waterloo Bridge, Oxford Circus, Parliament Square and Marble Arch – the only location where activists can legally gather.

By Thursday evening, more than 480 people had been arrested – the majority of whom were released soon after.

In a statement Scotland Yard said it wanted to avoid having protesters "sitting in cells for up to 12 hours before going to court for what, although highly disruptive, are lower level offences".

The force added: "We have been asked why we are not using tactics such as containment – physically and forcibly stopping the protesters from moving around.

"The simple answer is we have no legal basis to do so.

"These are peaceful protesters; while disruptive their actions are not violent towards police, themselves or other members of the public.

"We are looking at other tactics such as tighter police cordons, but again that is resource intensive in terms of officer numbers and more often than not it just shifts the protesters to another location nearby, and does not assist in reopening roads."

Police arrest protesters as they block traffic at Oxford Circus (AP)

In addition, police officers in the capital have been asked to work 12-hour shifts and rest days and leave has been cancelled.

Katarina Hasapopoulos, a mother-of-three from Stroud who is part of the Waterloo Bridge protest and was one of the first XR activists to be arrested this week, said the threat of arrest would not dissuade her from continuing to campaign for further government action to address climate change.

She told The Independent: "We are in unprecedented times, and that calls for drastic measures. On Monday I glued myself onto the Shell building, and I am prepared to keep doing that to bring about the changes and have our demands met."

XR is demanding the government declare a climate and ecological emergency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025 and create a citizen's assembly of members of the public to lead on decisions to address climate change.

The peaceful protests – which have seen activists glue themselves to public transport and block bridges and major roads across the capital – have divided opinion.

While some complained about activists targeting public transport on Wednesday, others praised both the political message and the friendly, carnival-like atmosphere at the four London locations.

Police said they expected the demonstrations to continue in the next few weeks (PA)

Speaking after a briefing with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, the home secretary said: "Let me be clear: I totally condemn any protesters who are stepping outside the boundaries of the law.

"They have no right to cause misery for the millions of people who are trying to lead their daily lives. Unlawful behaviour will not be tolerated.

"I expect the police to take a firm stance and use the full force of the law."