Protesters who are blocking a coach that is due to take asylum seekers to the Bibby Stockholm barge have been warned by police they face arrest as a number have already been taken into custody.
A large group of people, many with their faces covered, surrounded the vehicle earlier near the Best Western Hotel in Peckham, south London.
Several people were sitting down in the road in front of the coach and some demonstrators have been removed by officers.
In some images, it was seen to have a flat tyre.
The Metropolitan Police said a number of people were arrested for offences including obstruction of the highway and one person was arrested for a racially aggravated public order offence. They have all been taken into custody, the Met Police statement on X said.
The Bibby Stockholm, moored at Portland in Dorset, has been used since last August as ministers sought to find alternatives to hotel accommodation for those waiting for decisions on their asylum applications.
But the vessel has been plagued with issues – including an outbreak of Legionella bacteria onboard – and in December, police confirmed one of the people onboard had died, with reports suggesting the man had taken his own life.
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In February, MPs warned “claustrophobic” conditions were facing those on board the vessel which could amount to a breach of their human rights.
Following a visit to the barge, the Home Affairs Committee, made up of cross-party MPs, wrote to illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson to raise serious concerns about the situation on the vessel.
Sky News correspondent Sadiya Chowdhury was at the scene of the protests in south-east London on Thursday and said Peckham was “descending into utter chaos”.
She said it is believed the coach has now left without any of the asylum seekers it was meant to take to the barge.
“Protesters surrounded that coach, they didn’t let it leave, eventually when it did leave it left empty,” Sadiya said.
As for the seven asylum seekers listed for removal to the barge, Sadiya said it is thought they are “in and amongst this crowd”.
Read more:
Leonard Farruku’s family ‘can’t afford’ to repatriate body
In footage, the protesters could be heard chanting “no borders, no nations, stop deportations”.
In a statement posted on X, the Metropolitan Police said: “Police were called at around 8.40am to reports of a group of protesters near a hotel in Peckham Road SE15.
“There were reports that a coach had been obstructed by people and bicycles.”
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Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said: “My officers were quickly on scene and have engaged with the protesters at length.
“They have warned the group that they could be arrested.
“We will share more information when we can.”
