Harbour bridge protesters

A group of protestors who scaled the Auckland Harbour Bridge this morning are in police custody.

Police say the five males and two females aged 18 to 30 years got out of a car that stopped in the southbound lane on the northern side of the bridge at about 8.30am. The car then continued its journey across the bridge to a nearby marina.

The group smashed a lock on the gate that allows access to the bridge and they immediately went to the top of the structure.

Police were on the scene quickly and arrested the group of seven. The male driver of the car has been located and arrested. All have been charged with wilful damage and unlawfully being on enclosed premises. They will appear in the North Shore District Court on Friday 22 July 2011.

There was only minor disruption to traffic flows. The incident was over in about 20 minutes. Police believe the protest related to deep sea drilling off the East Coast.