Home Office deportation vans had to be escorted away by police after hundreds of Scottish people blocked them in during a failed Edinburgh immigration raid, according to reports.
Hundreds cheered in a packed Nicolson Square as the vans were led away after an alleged immigration raid close to Beirut restaurant.
Some chanted: “Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here,” as the sound of bagpipes wailed in the background.
The crowd chant "immigrants are welcome here!" & "shame on you!" as Home Office enforcement officers are escorted out of the building & into a waiting police van - empty handed. pic.twitter.com/krbVDumO27
— Catriona MacDonald (@CATRl0NA) May 5, 2022
Local reports claim the demonstrators have been told that people detained by immigration officers will now be de-arrested.
Protesters wedged in the white Home Office vans with large bins as some clambered on top of the roof.
They claimed they would allow immigration officers to leave if they did not take any detainees with them.
One eyewitness told the Daily Record they saw over 100 people at the gathering.
Just got sent this, woah pic.twitter.com/hTXp246fou
— Katie (@Gossfunkel) May 5, 2022
They added: “There are two vans, reportedly immigration vans, from the Government here, one black, one silver, protestors are jumping on top of them screaming: “no justice, no peace.”
Edingburgh Anti-Raids a protest group which highlighted the alleged immigration raid and called on people to gather in Nicolson Square to protest declared victory on Twitter as the police left.
They said: “The home office staff left with no one detained, all that’s left is empty vans. Thank you everyone for helping this happen. It is a big, big win.”
It came a year after Police Scotland released two men detained by Border Force officials in Kenmure Street, Pollokshields, after people surrounded the van they were being held in and prevented it from leaving.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 6.45pm on Thursday, 5 May, 2022, police were made aware of a group of people gathering on Potterrow, Edinburgh.
“Officers are at the scene.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “It is unacceptable for people to attempt to block legitimate actions of law enforcement as they work to remove those with no right to live or work in the UK.
“Through our Nationality and Borders Act we are taking steps to fix the broken system to make it fair to those in genuine need and firm on those who seek to abuse it. An operation was carried out in Edinburgh today and to suggest that protesters had an impact on the outcome is wrong.”
