HOME Office officials allegedly in Edinburgh for an immigration raid have been forced to leave without detaining anyone after locals protested, reports say.
Police officers and immigration officials were seen in Edinburgh’s Nicolson Square in the city centre on Thursday evening.
It is understood that immigration officials attempted to remove individuals from a local restaurant at the square.
Calls were put out by activists on social media for people to gather for a protest, mirroring the events on Glasgow’s Kenmure Street in May 2021.
Refuweegee, a charity that supports refugees and asylum seekers, told supporters to attend “peacefully”.
Protesters blocked the police vans, with former SNP MSP candidate Catriona MacDonald tweeting videos from the scene.
Ongoing direct action against a Home Office immigration raid at Nicolson Square. Members of the community are blockading the vans & offering noisy support. Agreement seems to have been reached that enforcement officers can leave as long as they do not take any detainees. pic.twitter.com/yBTBkw67ne
— Catriona MacDonald (@CATRl0NA) May 5, 2022
She wrote: “Ongoing direct action against a Home Office immigration raid at Nicolson Square.
“Members of the community are blockading the vans and offering noisy support. Agreement seems to have been reached that enforcement officers can leave as long as they do not take any detainees.”
Other photos and videos from the scene on social media seemed to show protesters climbing on police vehicles and holding signs reading "No peace for Police Scotland" and "Stop deportations”.
Just got sent this, woah pic.twitter.com/hTXp246fou
— Katie (@Gossfunkel) May 5, 2022
The police had reportedly been parked outside Beirut, on Marshall Street, Nicolson Square.
The force said they'd been called to a property at around 6.45pm after reports of a demonstration.
Lothian Buses diverted two routes, the number 2 and 47, as a result of the action.
The moment protesters in Edinburgh won and forced a home office deportation raid van to leave after crowds flocked to the scene after a call to action online. Beautiful!#nicolsonsquare pic.twitter.com/OMTY5wrjh2
— 😈 (@fcciluvb) May 5, 2022
MacDonald later added: “VICTORY! The crowd goes wild as the Home Office enforcement officers are escorted away by police! NO DETENTIONS!”
“The crowd chant ‘immigrants are welcome here!’ and ‘shame on you!’ as Home Office enforcement officers are escorted out of the building & into a waiting police van - empty handed.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 6.45pm on Thursday, 5 May, 2022 police were called to an address on Potterrow, Edinburgh following reports of a large protest outside a property.
“Officers are currently in attendance at the location and enquiries are ongoing.”
