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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Kieren Williams

Rwanda flight protesters lie in road and lock themselves together to block deportation

Protestors have laid down in the road and locked themselves together to block the Rwanda deportation flight set to head out this evening.

Five asylum seekers were due to be flown out from the UK to Rwanda under the controversial new policy.

However, activists from Stop Deportations have blocked the coach as it left Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre.

Protestors laid down in the road putting their bodies on the line as a banner was unfurled. As well as blocking the main road a back entrance was blocked too.

Are you in the area and at the protest? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk

There's a heavy police presence at the scene (REUTERS)

Met Police confirmed that two people have been arrested so far.

Pictures show there is a heavy police presence at the scene and protestors have called on more people to come down and join them at the scene.

In a press release, the organisation said: "No one should be on this flight. No one should be deported under such racist and discriminatory policies.

“It's clear we cannot trust the courts to give us true justice and prevent this racist, fascist deportation, so that's why we have taken action. No deportations, not to Rwanda or anywhere else."

Police officers try to remove an activist blocking a road leading away from the Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre (REUTERS)

The flight is reportedly due to fly out this evening from London Stansted airport to Kigali in Rwanda.

Protestors locked themselves together with metal pipes and blocked the exits at the immigration removal centre.

The Rwanda policy has already been subject to a number of legal challenges in the High Court and Court of Appeal.

The protest was organised by a group called 'No Deportations' (REUTERS)

Whilst the flight itself was allowed to go ahead, a number of successful challenges were made on behalf of individuals.

Videos from the unfolding protest shows people chanting “Stop the plane!” and holding up placards and a banner.

In the process of removing protestors from in front of the immigration centre, one led to a chase with police quickly capturing them.

The protest is taking place near the Colnbrook Immigration Removal centre, near Heathrow airport in London (REUTERS)

The European Court of Human Rights granted an injunction to stop one of the people on the flight being deported tonight.

"This means it is now possible for the other six to make similar claims. We are so relieved," Clare Moseley from the charity Care4Calais said. There are now only six people left due to fly out.

ITV reported that sources within the government had "huge concern" that the European Court of Human Rights might prevent the flight, most likely through individual injunctions.

Protestors blocking the road (REUTERS)

These can come as late as when the remaining six are sat in their seats on the plane.

Boris Johnson and his Tory government had repeatedly blamed lawyers for preventing removal flights and he recently suggested that lawyers representing migrants were "abetting the work of criminal gangs".

In response to continued attacks on lawyers and the legal profession, The Bar Council pointed out that their legal challenges only succeeded because they forced the government to act lawfully.

Officers continue to remove some of the activists blocking the road (REUTERS)

They said: "Legal challenges ensure government is acting lawfully, following laws agreed by parliament.

It is misleading and dangerous for the prime minister to suggest lawyers who bring such legal challenges are doing anything other than their job and upholding the law.

"Anyone at risk of a life-changing order has a right to challenge its legality with the assistance of a lawyer, who has a duty to advise their client on their rights.

A protestor being led away by police (REUTERS)

“The Bar Council and Law Society of England and Wales together call on the prime minister to stop attacks on legal professionals who are simply doing their jobs.”

In a statement a spokesperson for the Met Police said: "Police were called at 17:12hrs on Tuesday, 14 June to reports of a group of protesters blocking the A4 Colnbrook Bypass.

"Officers attended and arrested nine people for obstructing the highway. They have been taken to a central London police station.

"Some roads were closed while officers responded to the incident but they have now been reopened.

"Officers remain in the vicinity."

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