Protesters removed from plane

POLICE freed 56 Iranian monarchists after removing them from a plane at Brussels airport yesterday, ending a 15-hour protest by the group against the Tehran government.

About 90 police officers forcefully removed the protesters from the plane, which was moved away from the airport terminal at Brussels airport after negotiations failed to end the protest at 2.30am Irish time.

The stand-off began shortly after the Lufthansa flight landed from Frankfurt yesterday afternoon.

Police spokeswoman Els Cleemput said all protesters “were free to go” after their documents were checked by immigration officials after they were taken off the aircraft.

Interior Minister Patrick Dewael said no charges were pressed because no Belgian laws were broken.