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Occupy London protesters evicted from City office block Occupy London protesters evicted from City office block
(about 3 hours later)
Dozens of Occupy London protesters have been evicted from a disused office block in the City of London, criticising police and bailiffs for what they called heavy-handed and "utterly irresponsible" tactics. Dozens of Occupy London protesters evicted from a disused office block in the City of London have criticised bailiffs for what they called heavy handed and "utterly irresponsible" tactics.
Around 50 protesters were evicted peacefully from the UBS-owned building they had turned into an educational hub called the Bank of Ideas, shortly after midnight. Police and bailiffs then moved to evict squatters from another building in the complex, also owned by the Swiss banking giant, during which protesters claim a photographer was punched in the face by a bailiff who then drove his car at speed towards more protesters. Around 50 protesters were evicted peacefully from the UBS-owned building they had turned into an educational hub called the Bank of Ideas, shortly after midnight. Police and bailiffs then moved to evict squatters from another building in the complex, also owned by the Swiss banking giant, during which observers claim a photographer was punched in the face by a bailiff who allegedly then drove his car at speed towards at least one person and carried another on his bonnet.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan police said a man, understood to be the bailiff, had been arrested after an allegation of assault and criminal damage. Another man, believed to be a protester, was briefly arrested "to prevent a breach of the peace" but quickly released. A spokesman for the Metropolitan police said a 45-year-old man, understood to be the bailiff, had been arrested after an allegation of assault and criminal damage and was being held at a north London police station. Another man, believed to be a protester, was briefly arrested "to prevent a breach of the peace" but quickly released.
The photographer, Jules Mattsson, reported the assault allegation on Twitter. "I am, obviously, pretty pissed off about this all," he wrote. "I have a right to go about my job covering news without fear of assault." The photographer, Jules Mattsson, reported the allegation of assault on Twitter. "I am, obviously, pretty pissed off about this all," he wrote. "I have a right to go about my job covering news without fear of assault. People have a similar right to protest, or just be bystanders, without being driven at by a man who police assisted in leaving scene."
One of the protesters present at the Earl Street site, who gave her name only as Anna, said the bailiffs were aggressive. A protester who gave her name only as Anna said her hand had been hurt when the man had driven towards her. "I was just taking photos. He put his foot down and accelerated straight at me."
"I'm a photographer; I had one guy smash his fist into my camera. When I wheeled back from that he then hit me in the head and pushed me back by my face." She said she asked for his identification number and he responded with a threat. Video footage shows a man, described as the bailiff alleged to have assaulted Mattsson, being surrounded by police and a group of protesters who shout at him, hit his windscreen with bottles and attempt to stop him driving away. He then succeeds in moving off with a man apparently still on his bonnet. The Guardian is unable to verify the images independently.
In a statement, the Occupy movement said protesters had been "brought out peacefully and were allowed to take their belongings with them". But it added: "We are also gravely concerned that the police's actions this morning demonstrated a greater concern for the well-being of a building than the safety of the public. We look forward to receiving a formal response." Anna said the bailiffs had been "provocative and aggressive". "I'm a photographer; I had one guy smash his fist into my camera. When I wheeled back from that he then hit me in the head and pushed me back by my face." She said she asked for his identification number and he responded with a threat. "The way they were acting was utterly irresponsible," she added.
Around 70 protesters from the movement had gathered outside the building in solidarity with the squatters, who were not affiliated with the organisation. In a statement, a spokesman for bailiff provider Rossendales said the protesters outside the Earl Street site had been "verbally abusive" towards its staff and the police. Alan Smith, the company's high court enforcement and commercial services director, added: "As one of our officers left the premises to return to his car, a number of protesters pursued him and he was pushed and abused. Naturally he felt concerned for his safety and acted in self defence. As he left in his car, more protesters attacked his vehicle causing damage to it, while police officers were present."
"There was an awful lot of people around me also being pushed and shoved," Anna said. The Occupy movement said protesters at the Earl Street site had been "brought out peacefully and were allowed to take their belongings with them". But it added: "We are also gravely concerned that the police's actions this morning demonstrated a greater concern for the well-being of a building than the safety of the public. We look forward to receiving a formal response."
After moving into the unused UBS complex in November, Occupy activists used what they called their "public repossession" to turn the space, on Sun Street, into a hub of debate and discussion. But the bank, which had not used the premises for years, immediately contested the occupation in the courts, and won the right to evict the activists. UBS was granted a possession order last week.
In anticipation of the eviction, most activists moved out last week and tried to set up in another disused building - the former UK headquarters of Iraq's now defunct Rafidain Bank, on Leadenhall Street. But bailiffs and police evicted protesters from the site on Friday, saying they were "committing a criminal offence by trespassing".