Bush’s Shannon stopover picketed by anti-war group

A small group of anti-war activists held a protest vigil when President George W Bush’s plane refuelled at Shannon airport early today.

Airforce One, touched down at Shannon Airport just before 2.45am while bringing Mr Bush home to Washington from his state visit to Pakistan and India.

Nobody disembarked from the plane during its hour long stop-over, according to airport authorities.

A security operation involving several hundred gardaí and soldiers was maintained before and during the stopover.

A small group of anti-war campaigners protested at the airport, spokesperson Ed Horgan claimed that such visits put Ireland at risk of a possible terror attack.

"I think if the United States military continue to be allowed use Shannon airport there is a very strong danger Ireland will be attacked, but the attack would be on Dublin, not on Shannon," he said.