The Stansted 15 stated that they acted to prevent human rights abuses from taking place yet they were accused of putting the safety of the airport and passengers at risk and causing serious disruption to international air travel . During the trial , representatives of Amnesty International UK were observing due to the serious concern that the charges had been made to deter other protesters from taking non-violent direct action , and that the group were treated with undue harshness in relation to the severity of the ' crimes ' . Following a ten week trial , a jury at Chelmsford crown court found the defendants , all members of the group guilty of intentional disruption of services at an aerodrome . They were found guilty under the 1990 Aviation and Maritime Security Act , a law passed in response to the 1988 Lockerbie bombing . Following their conviction , a demonstration to protest against the Stansted 15 ’s guilty verdict was held outside the Home Office . More than 1,300 attendees turned out to hear MPs Diane Abbott and Clive Lewis speak alongside Lesbian and Gays Support the Migrants
Lockerbie bombing
Pan Am Flight 103
Stansted 15