Stansted 15: Activists Who Stopped Deportation Charter Flight Convicted of Terror-Related Charges

A group of 15 activists who prevented a deportation charter flight from leaving Stansted airport by locking themselves together around the aeroplane have been found guilty of a terror-related offence.

The so-called Stansted 15 spent nine weeks on trial charged with an offence that has never been used before in response to a non-violent direct action and carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

They were convicted by a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday 10 December and will be sentenced on 6 February 2019.

Ben Smoke, who was arrested after being cut away from the front wheel of the aeroplane, said the guilty verdict would have “huge ramifications on the ability of people to engage in what is a very long tradition of direct action in this country”.

The 27-year-old told Novara Media:

“I’m obviously terrified for myself, terrified for what the future holds, but more than that I’m terrified about how we carry on fighting a government that just won’t