The national aviation prosecutor of the Public Prosecution Service of North Holland (OM) has made a decision about the action of climate groups that took place on November 5, 2022 at Schiphol.
On that day , climate activists had swarmed into an Apron area of Schiphol airport that handles pvt jets. They Even sneaked in bicycles which resulted in rather fabulous chase scenes wherein activists can be seen furiously pedaling their way out to avoid being pinned by security agencies.
Incident was not taken lightly by the court , and now , Five suspects who chained themselves to aircraft will have to answer to the magistrate for illegally entering the secured Schiphol aerodrome. The case of two suspects who helped in the entry is conditionally dropped.
The other 176 persons who have been identified will receive a warning letter from the Public Prosecution Service, stating that the Public Prosecution Service will not prosecute, despite the fact that their behavior is punishable.
Reports sugest , they have walked and cycled on the site. The Public Prosecution Service can imagine that these people may not have fully realized the risks, despite the mayor's warning.
On November 5, 2022, hundreds of members of climate action groups Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion participated in a climate action in a fenced area at Schiphol Airport.
Private jets, but also a Canadian military aircraft, were parked on that site, and police helicopters from the aviation police were stationed in a special hangar. The demonstrators climbed over the fence, using a specially prepared truck.
In other places, the fence around this part of the Schiphol site was cut and demonstrators entered the site through the holes in the fence. A number of demonstrators sat under the private jets and the military aircraft and chained themselves to (the wheels of) the aircraft. A large group of other demonstrators gathered around it.
The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee detained about 400 demonstrators that day, but the majority did not want to identify themselves. Everyone has been released after arrest.
The criminal investigation then focused primarily on identifying the persons who chained themselves to aircraft and on identifying those involved who helped others climb over and cut the fence. In the end, 183 persons were identified as involved in the unlawful intrusion of the aerodrome.
The demonstrators have deliberately ignored the instructions of the mayor of the municipality of Haarlemmermeer regarding the demonstration, believes the Public Prosecution Service.
These instructions were issued because of the increased risk that arises when entering the secured part of Schiphol and blocking the airport grounds. The fear of serious disorder turned out to be unjustified. The unlawful activities of the demonstrators had consequences : eleven planes had been blocked, so that seven could not leave.
Five aircraft have therefore also diverted to another airport. In one case it was a medical flight. An aviation police helicopter also had to divert and their air support could no longer be called upon.
A police helicopter parked outside could not be deployed and had to be subjected to an extensive inspection to ensure flight safety had not been compromised. Such a detailed inspection also had to be carried out on the planes to which the demonstrators had chained themselves.
The Public Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute five persons for illegally entering the aerodrome at Schiphol. This is a crime based on Section 62a of the Aviation Act.
The suspects are a 22-year-old woman from Duivendrecht, a 54-year-old woman from Naarden, a 29-year-old woman from Nijmegen, a 35-year-old man from Beilen and a 52-year-old man from Amsterdam.
These particular activists had chained themselves to the landing gear of airplanes. That has led to considerable damage. The OM takes that seriously.
A date on which the case will be heard has not yet been announced.
In addition, two suspects have been identified, a 69-year-old man from Doetinchem and a 26-year-old woman from Nijmegen, who helped fellow demonstrators climb over the fence from the prepared truck.
Because it has not become clear that they (also) deliberately provided assistance to the persons who chained themselves to aircraft, the Public Prosecution Service has decided to conditionally dismiss their case.
The other 176 persons who have been identified will receive a warning letter from the Public Prosecution Service, stating that the Public Prosecution Service will not prosecute, despite the fact that their behavior is punishable.
They walked and cycled on the site, but did not perform any other actions. The Public Prosecution Service can imagine that these people may not have fully realized the risks, despite the mayor's warning.
With their action, climate activists wanted to prevent private jets from taking off from Schiphol-East that day. They stated that Schiphol must shrink considerably. In the current climate crisis, it does not make sense that "so many private flights depart from the airport every day," according to the demonstrators.
Related News....
