LONDON -- Police officers and bailiffs clashed with a group of squatters in a five-storey Victorian building near Trafalgar Square in central London on Wednesday morning
The group, who refer to themselves as "Love Activists," refused to leave the former Royal Bank of Scotland office, as bailiffs tried to evict them. Some climbed onto the ledge of the first-floor balcony.
London activists occupy 5-storey former bank in London to provide shelter, clothing and ... http://t.co/0rbnOglDtH pic.twitter.com/K4yiYZ2Mr2— fa (@fa77775682) December 24, 2014
Love Activists took over the property, previously leased by RBS, which was bailed out with public funds in 2008. The squatters said the building had "been taken by the people."
They planned to serve a festive lunch for the homeless on Christmas Day to protest against the UK's current housing crisis.
In sprit of Christmas cheer @metpoliceuk are assisting in unlawful eviction of the #LoveActivists who were feeding homeless for Xmas.— Aaron John Bastani (@AaronBastani) December 24, 2014
The standoff began after the building's current owner, Greencap Limited, was granted an emergency high court injunction allowing bailiffs to evict individuals named as "persons unknown," the Guardian reported.
#LoveActivists protesting about the housing crisis are in a stand-off with police in central London pic.twitter.com/fYwBNQu50J— Sputnik UK (@SputnikNewsUK) December 24, 2014
Protestors outside the RBS building in support of the fight against eviction https://t.co/xj76lpoGQD— Hannah EllisPetersen (@HannahEP) December 24, 2014
One of the squatters, Danny Freeman, 22, reportedly said, “We heard banging on the door at 8 a.m. and some people forced their way in."
“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," Freeman added.
"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.”
Love Activists have called their occupation of the former bank a "public repossession."
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Post by Love Activists.
The group vowed to continue with their plans to serve food tomorrow.