Amsterdam airport runway blocked by demonstrators

Photo: Amsterdam airport runway blocked by demonstrators

Friends of the Earth Netherlands, an environmental group, organized the demonstration to protest what it sees as too-lenient rules on noise, pollution and expansion at the airport.

"Air transport in general means pollution," said group spokesman Victor van den Belt. "The protest is the way to tell parliament to protect people with better rules than we have now."

Police said the group was arrested around 9 a.m. (0800 GMT), after a four-hour demonstration. Schiphol spokeswoman Mirjam Snoerwang said traffic was diverted to other runways and there was no disturbance to flight schedules, the AP reports.

Van den Belt said nine demonstrators sat atop poles set up on the runway, while others chained themselves together at the base of the poles. Airport police used cranes to reach some of the demonstrators.

Police could not say what whether the arrested demonstrators will face charges other than trespassing.