Ten supporters claiming to be part of the Black Lives Matter movement have been arrested during a demonstration near Heathrow Airport.

The Metropolitan Police said four people had been taken to west London police stations, where they remain in custody.

Officers said a further six people were arrested at the scene and they had to release the remaining activists who had "locked on" to each other while lying on the tarmac.

Screens were put up to prevent distraction for motorists.

Video footage showed police officers hunkering down next to the protesters, while chants of "black lives matter" could be heard.


Demonstrators are linked together lying on the road heading into Heathrow

Scotland Yard said officers were called at 8.25am on Friday to the M4 slip road at one of the world's busiest airports.

A spokesman said: "Officers have attended and a number of people have been arrested.

Black Lives Matter activist Adam Elliott Cooper, 29, from London, said the Heathrow location was chosen as "many people are either being killed at our borders or being sent back to certain death".

A Heathrow spokesman said: "Heathrow supports the right to peaceful protest within the law, but the safety and security of our passengers, aircraft and colleagues, together with the smooth running of the operation, is paramount.

"We are sorry to those passengers whose journeys are being disrupted and we are working with the authorities to resolve the issue."

Activists shut down part of Nottingham's tram and bus network. Pic: Joe Howey

The disruption at Heathrow was part of wider demonstrations in other parts of the UK.

Protesters called for a "nationwide #shutdown" in a post on social media on Thursday, and events were also held in Birmingham, Nottingham, and Manchester.

Members of the movement caused delays to the tram network in Nottingham city centre by lying on the tracks.

Nottinghamshire Police said officers negotiated with a small number of protesters and screens were also been put up.

Image: Protesters lying on tram tracks in Nottingham get support from the public.

Earlier in the day, a group of protesters blocked the A45 in Solihull, and five people were arrested for obstructing the highway.

The group said it staged the "shutdown" of roads to "mourn those who have died in custody and to protest the ongoing racist violence of the police, border enforcement, structural inequalities and the everyday indignity of street racism".

The demonstrations came on the fifth anniversary of the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan by police in north London, which led to riots in several cities across England.

Image: Mark Duggan was shot dead by police in north London five years ago

The Black Lives Matter movement began in the US in protest against police killings of black people.

Two white officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, killed a black man during a scuffle and an officer in Minnesota shot and killed a black motorist during a traffic stop, sparking protests.

Police have also been the victims of fatal shootings, with five officers killed in Dallas, Texas, and three law enforcement officers gunned down in Baton Rouge.