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Lucky this didn't happen in the USA. The Secret Service would have shot him down with a surface to air missile. Manhunt on for paraglider who flew banner over Trump during Scotland golf course visit Alan Ferguson, The (Glasgow, Scotland) Herald Published 7:28 a.m. MT July 14, 2018 | Updated 9:06 a.m. MT July 14, 2018 GLASGOW, Scotland — Police in Scotland have launched a manhunt for the anti-Trump protester who breached a security ring to paraglide within 200 feet of the president. President Donald Trump was on the lawn of his Turnberry golf course with business associates Friday evening when a Greenpeace protester swooped in carrying a banner that read, "Trump Well Below Par #Resist." A no-fly zone is in effect over the famous Trump Turnberry Golf Resort while the president stays there during his first official visit to the United Kingdom. Security agents ushered the president inside as the activist glided overhead. The paraglider flew three miles across the Ayrshire countryside at 9:30 p.m. Friday — minutes after Trump arrived at the course — before circling the lawn in front of the Turnberry Hotel where the president is staying for the weekend. "We are investigating a breach of the air exclusion zone over Turnberry Hotel," Detective Inspector Stephen McCulloch said, describing the act as a "criminal offense." "We are attempting to trace the pilot, and I would appeal to anyone with any information about the incident to call police," he added. Ben Stewart, a Greenpeace spokesman, said the reaction from authorities was “pretty calm” when the group informed them in advance of the stunt. "One of our first thoughts were how can we ensure that the police are comfortable with what we’re doing and don’t over-react," he said. A Greenpeace representative informed officers about the fly-over before it happened. The group also notified the police air incident advisor and Prestwick air traffic control minutes before the glider arrived. "With these things you get a sense of what the reaction would be — and it felt pretty calm — we came in above Trump and it was interesting to see that Trump saw us and scurried inside when our banner came over," Stewart said. In a statement, Greenpeace criticized Trump for describing climate change as a "con job" and "myth," noting his decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord. “He’s committed to burning more dirty coal and overturned the ban on offshore Arctic oil drilling. And that’s before you even get to talking about separating kids from their parents and caging them," the group said in a statement. “(Prime Minister) Theresa May should not have dignified Trump with a visit to the U.K." Dozens of protests against Trump's visit have taken place across Scotland. An upcoming rally in Edinburgh and a Pride march in Glasgow will likely have anti-Trump tones. In a tweet Saturday morning, Trump welcomed the weather and praised Scotland as an “incredible” place. He will be holding meetings and playing golf before setting off to meet Vladimir Putin on Monday in Helsinki.
Man arrested over paraglider protest at Trump's golf course in Scotland TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) - A 55 year-old man has been arrested following a protest at U.S. President Donald Trump’s golf course in Scotland on Friday, Scottish police said, after a an activist used a powered parachute to get within a few hundred yards of the president. “Police Scotland can confirm that a 55-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an incident when a powered parachute was flown in the vicinity of the Turnberry Hotel around 9.45 pm on Friday,” a police statement said. Writing by William James; editing by Guy Faulconbridge
Greenpeace Paraglider Protests President Trump During a Visit to His Scottish Golf Resort By PAUL KELBIE / AP July 14, 2018 (EDINBURGH, Scotland) — Some 10,000 people marched Saturday through the Scottish capital of Edinburgh to protest U.S. President Donald Trump, while police tried to find a paraglider who breached a no-fly zone and flew a protest banner over the golf resort where Trump is staying. The glider carried a banner reading “Trump: Well Below Par” over Trump’s Turnberry golf resort in western Scotland on Friday night to protest his environmental and immigration policies. Greenpeace, in a statement, claimed the protest forced the president to take cover, saying “as the glider appears overhead the president can be seen making for the entrance breaking into a trot.” The environmental group said it had informed police about the stunt 10 minutes before the glider arrived. Detective Inspector Stephen McCulloch said the protester breached a no-fly zone over Turnberry hotel, committing a criminal offense. In Edinburgh, a police helicopter almost drowned out the chants of the protesters, who plan to launch into the sky the giant “Baby Donald” balloon — depicting the president as an angry orange baby. The same balloon flew over anti-Trump protests in London on Friday, when thousands crammed the streets of the British capital to vent their anger over Trump’s first official visit to Britain. Trump and his wife, Melania, were spending the weekend out of the spotlight at his Turnberry resort, ahead of his high-stakes summit Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland. Jonathon Shafi, of the group Scotland Against Trump, said he wanted to show solidarity with Americans against Trump. “It’s not acceptable that a president talks about grabbing women, separates children from their families and gives encouragement to fascist, racists, misogynists and homophobes,” he said. “We are not anti-American, just against Trump and his divisive regime”. Eli Roth, 56, from California but living in Edinburgh, said he doubts the U.S. president will take notice. “I don’t think anything gets the message across to Trump, but I hope demonstrations like these encourage people in the States to fight the Trump regime,” he said. “We need to show that there are people outside America who care about what is happening and that Trump has a global impact.
Trump UK visit: Man charged over paraglider protest at US president's golf course in Scotland Chris Baynes The Independent Online Police have charged a 55-year-old man over a protest in which a paraglider sailed within metres of Donald Trump as the US president visited his golf course in Scotland. A demonstrator trailing a banner reading “Trump well below par” flew past the American leader at his Turnberry resort in Ayrshire on Friday, as protests took place across Britain over his controversial visit to the UK. The stunt, orchestrated by environmental group Greenpeace, was condemned by Police Scotland, which said the activist had placed themselves in “grave danger” as snipers watched on from the hotel’s roof. A spokesman said: “Police Scotland can confirm that a 55-year-old man has been arrested and has now been charged in connection with an incident when a powered parachute was flown in the vicinity of the Turnberry Hotel around 9.45pm on Friday 13 July 2018.” He is expected to appear at Ayr Sheriff Court on Monday and a report will be submitted to public prosecutor, the Procurator Fiscal. Footage of the incident showed Mr Trump being ushered inside his five-star hotel as the protested drifted towards him. Images showed marksmen assigned to protect the president pointing their rifles at the powered parachute, which circled the hotel at about 10pm. Greenpeace shared a video of the stunt in a tweet, which read: “Watch as @realDonaldTrump tries to hide from our message flying right over his head.” The campaign group said it had alerted the police to the protest 10 to 15 minutes before it took place. Greenpeace spokesman Ben Stewart said: “Theresa May should not have dignified Trump with a visit to the UK. “The vast majority of British people are appalled by his words and deeds. He is, simply, the worst president ever. That’s why we flew over him with a message branding him well below par.” Following the stunt, Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams told BBC Scotland: “There are armed assets protecting the president – both from the US Secret Service and ourselves and the Met Police, who offer a close protection function as well. “And there’s no doubt anybody who breaches security around him puts themselves in grave danger. “On this occasion we could assess the situation and we realised there was no direct threat to the president however it’s absolutely something that is very serious.” The president and his wife Melania have been staying at Turnberry this weekend during a private leg of their UK visit, which was marked by huge demonstrations involving thousands of people in London, Edinburgh and other cities.
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