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‘Love Activists’ protesters in standoff with police in central London ‘Love Activists’ protesters in standoff with police in central London
(35 minutes later)
A group of squatters are staging a high-stakes standoff with bailiffs and the police on the balcony of a five-storey Victorian office building near Trafalgar Square in London.A group of squatters are staging a high-stakes standoff with bailiffs and the police on the balcony of a five-storey Victorian office building near Trafalgar Square in London.
Two members of the self-styled “Love Activists” refused to leave the former RBS office when bailiffs arrived to evict them on Wednesday morning.Two members of the self-styled “Love Activists” refused to leave the former RBS office when bailiffs arrived to evict them on Wednesday morning.
As police officers and bailiffs looked on, the squatters climbed on to the ledge of a first-floor balcony of the grade II-listed building on the corner of Charing Cross Road and St Martin’s Lane.As police officers and bailiffs looked on, the squatters climbed on to the ledge of a first-floor balcony of the grade II-listed building on the corner of Charing Cross Road and St Martin’s Lane.
The squatters took over the vacant building earlier this week and planned to provide a free festive lunch to homeless people on Christmas Day in protest at the housing crisis.The squatters took over the vacant building earlier this week and planned to provide a free festive lunch to homeless people on Christmas Day in protest at the housing crisis.
Most of the squatters left the building when the bailiffs turned up, but two activists refused to leave and took to the ledge of a balcony as a police officer stood nearby. About 10 police officers are at the scene, with a police van and ambulance on standby.Most of the squatters left the building when the bailiffs turned up, but two activists refused to leave and took to the ledge of a balcony as a police officer stood nearby. About 10 police officers are at the scene, with a police van and ambulance on standby.
Short video message from the two squatters on the balcony https://t.co/Jt1LhSVG3O
A Metropolitan police spokesman confirmed that officers had been called in by the bailiffs to prevent a breach of the peace. No arrests had been made at the time of publication.A Metropolitan police spokesman confirmed that officers had been called in by the bailiffs to prevent a breach of the peace. No arrests had been made at the time of publication.
One of the squatters on the balcony, Danny Freeman, 22, told the Guardian: “We heard banging on the door at 8am and some people forced their way in. We don’t know who they were because they wouldn’t tell us and have not provided us with any paperwork.One of the squatters on the balcony, Danny Freeman, 22, told the Guardian: “We heard banging on the door at 8am and some people forced their way in. We don’t know who they were because they wouldn’t tell us and have not provided us with any paperwork.
“I climbed on to the balcony and then I called the police. I can’t put into words how distressed I feel about this. We won’t be able to provide Christmas lunch for the homeless now and about 50 people who were sleeping here will be homeless over Christmas. I’m here for the long haul, I’m not planning to come down from the balcony. I’d rather spend Christmas here than in the cells.”“I climbed on to the balcony and then I called the police. I can’t put into words how distressed I feel about this. We won’t be able to provide Christmas lunch for the homeless now and about 50 people who were sleeping here will be homeless over Christmas. I’m here for the long haul, I’m not planning to come down from the balcony. I’d rather spend Christmas here than in the cells.”
Squatters and police https://t.co/ozMh7rLhUI
In October, Freeman carried out a protest by standing on a Winston Churchill statue in Parliament Square in London in a 28-hour standoff with police.In October, Freeman carried out a protest by standing on a Winston Churchill statue in Parliament Square in London in a 28-hour standoff with police.
At Wednesday’s protest, supporters threw food and cigarettes to Freeman as he refused to come down from the balcony.At Wednesday’s protest, supporters threw food and cigarettes to Freeman as he refused to come down from the balcony.
On the street below, a number of squatters claimed they had been manhandled by bailiffs during the eviction.On the street below, a number of squatters claimed they had been manhandled by bailiffs during the eviction.
The standoff came after the current owner of the building, Greencap Ltd, was granted an emergency high court injunction on Wednesday morning, allowing bailiffs to evict individuals named in court as “persons unknown”.The standoff came after the current owner of the building, Greencap Ltd, was granted an emergency high court injunction on Wednesday morning, allowing bailiffs to evict individuals named in court as “persons unknown”.
Built in 1890 by Robert Walker in Portland stone and listed by English Heritage as a site of special historical and architectural interest, the property boasts a penthouse suite with aerial views of the capital, dozens of rooms, spaces for entertaining, and a secure vault in the basement.Built in 1890 by Robert Walker in Portland stone and listed by English Heritage as a site of special historical and architectural interest, the property boasts a penthouse suite with aerial views of the capital, dozens of rooms, spaces for entertaining, and a secure vault in the basement.
Protesters said they would seek to amend the high court order to allow them to cook a Christmas Day meal for the homeless.Protesters said they would seek to amend the high court order to allow them to cook a Christmas Day meal for the homeless.
Outside on the pavement, they had plentiful supplies of broccoli, potatoes and other vegetables and a supermarket trolley piled high with rucksacks, a couple of guitars and a dog named Zeus.Outside on the pavement, they had plentiful supplies of broccoli, potatoes and other vegetables and a supermarket trolley piled high with rucksacks, a couple of guitars and a dog named Zeus.
“We will stay up on the balcony for as long as it takes,” said a 21-year-old woman who gave her name as Mouse.“We will stay up on the balcony for as long as it takes,” said a 21-year-old woman who gave her name as Mouse.
The tense atmosphere was broken by passersby who gave protesters fruit and cakes, and a friendly police officer who corrected a spelling mistake in chalking on the pavement: “Trying to help homeless evicted on Christmas Eve.”The tense atmosphere was broken by passersby who gave protesters fruit and cakes, and a friendly police officer who corrected a spelling mistake in chalking on the pavement: “Trying to help homeless evicted on Christmas Eve.”