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Occupy London protesters take over empty bank office | |
(40 minutes later) | |
Occupy London Stock Exchange protesters have extended their action by taking over an empty office block in Hackney, east London, belonging to the bank UBS. | |
The deadline has passed for people camping outside St Paul's Cathedral to leave or face court action, but protesters remain at the site. | |
An Occupy London spokesman described the new move as "public repossession". | An Occupy London spokesman described the new move as "public repossession". |
A UBS spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the situation and taking appropriate action." | |
Jack Holburn, a supporter of the anti-capitalist campaign group, said: "As banks repossess families' homes, empty bank property needs to be repossessed by the public." | |
The protest group said a dozen activists gained access to the building and secured it on Thursday night, "giving them a legal claim on the space". | The protest group said a dozen activists gained access to the building and secured it on Thursday night, "giving them a legal claim on the space". |
Occupy London said it was the group's third space and its first building, adding to its camps at St Paul's Churchyard, and at Finsbury Square, in the City of London. | |
'Bank of Ideas' | |
Mr Holburn said: "Whilst over 9,000 families were kicked out of their homes in the last three months for failing to keep up mortgage payments - mostly due to the recession caused by the banks - UBS and others financial giants are sitting on massive abandoned properties." | |
Occupy London said the space would be reopened on Saturday morning as the Bank of Ideas, with a programme of talks and comedy lined up. | |
Sarah Layler of Occupy London added: "The Bank of Ideas will host a full events programme where people will be able to trade in creativity rather than cash. | |
"We will also make space available for those that have lost their nurseries, community centres and youth clubs to savage government spending cuts." | |
The City of London Corporation had given protesters at St Paul's until 18:00 GMT on Thursday to clear the "public highway". | The City of London Corporation had given protesters at St Paul's until 18:00 GMT on Thursday to clear the "public highway". |
But an Occupy London spokeswoman said: "We're not planning on going anywhere." | But an Occupy London spokeswoman said: "We're not planning on going anywhere." |