Roads Blocked In UK Black Lives Matter Protests

Supporters claiming to be part of the Black Lives Matter movement brought traffic to a standstill in parts of the UK.

Activists had called for a "nationwide #shutdown" in a post on social media on Thursday, with events being held in London, Birmingham, Nottingham, and Manchester.

Sky News understands six protesters locked themselves to boxes on the road, while others were lying on the tarmac obstructing holidaymakers heading to Heathrow Airport.

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

Police were using specialist equipment to cut the protesters free and re-open the road.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called at 8.25am this morning to the M4 slip road at one of the world's busiest airports.

Screens have been put up to prevent distraction for motorists.

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

"One lane has been opened but there is traffic congestion. Police continue to deal with the situation at the scene."

Heathrow said the protest does not appear to be causing people to miss flights.

A 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."

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

Nottinghamshire Police said officers are at the scene negotiating with a small number of protesters and screens have also been put up.

Earlier this morning during rush hour a group of protesters blocked the A45 in Solihull, and five people were arrested for obstructing the highway.

The group has 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 come 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.

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.