Eight Just Stop Oil protesters have been arrested at London’s Gatwick airport after activists used suitcases with lock-on devices to demonstrate near a security gate, an airport spokesperson said, reports Sky News.

The airport "is open and operating normally today," the spokesperson said, adding: "There are a small number of protestors at the airport who have now been arrested and are being removed from the airport."

Seven activists entered the airport's southern terminal at around 8am, the protest group said, as an image showed the protesters sitting on the floor and blocking an entrance. Video posted by Just Stop Oil also shows travelers walking over the activists, whose hands were seen inside the lock-on devices.

"As long as political leaders fail to take swift and decisive action to protect our communities from the worst effects of climate breakdown, Just Stop Oil supporters, working with other groups internationally, will take the proportionate action necessary to generate much needed political pressure," the group said in a statement.