Protesters in Peckham are blocking a coach from taking asylum seekers to the Bibby Stockholm barge.
Dozens of protesters wearing face coverings surrounded the vehicle outside the Best Western in Peckham Road on Thursday morning.
A large police presence was reported at the scene.
Video showed an apparently peaceful protest, with activists surrounding the coach with linked arms, chanting “say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here”.
Lime bikes have been placed under the wheels of the coach to stop it moving.
Protest group ‘end police violence’ posted on X: “We’ll be blocking this coach until we know for sure that our friends won’t be snatched today.”Details have not yet been confirmed by police, and it has not yet been confirmed the coach was headed to the Bibby Stockholm.
Protestors in Peckham surrounding a coach outside of a hotel which they believe is here to take migrants to the Bibby Stockholm.
— Charlotte Lynch (@charlotterlynch) May 2, 2024
Groups say they received ‘intelligence’ the coach was going to three other locations to pick people up & removals happening all over the country @LBC pic.twitter.com/CvUHeSbzpO
Journalist Kate Middleton, who was at the scene, wrote on X: “Police and home office security say the Peckham coach to Bibby Stockholm has been cancelled - but they won’t provide any proof/confirmation. 100s of People are holding the coach here in Peckham until confirmation.”
The Home Office said Thursday’s incident was not an immigration enforcement visit.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Accommodation is allocated to asylum seekers on a no-choice basis and asylum seekers can make representations if they believe they are unsuitable to be moved to the Bibby Stockholm. These are considered in full before any decision is made.
“We continue to deliver our plans to significantly reduce the use of asylum hotels, closing 150 by beginning of May, and work closely with accommodation providers to manage the exit process in a way which limits the impact on local authorities and asylum seekers alike.”
The Met police have been approached for information.
