Nicola Sturgeon blasts Home Office over Pollokshields immigration raid which sparked huge protest in Kenmure Street
Pollokshields #Pollokshields
NICOLA Sturgeon blasted a “dangerous and unacceptable” immigration raid in Glasgow which has led to a huge protest.
The First Minister demanded answers from the Home Office after angry locals blocked an immigration enforcement van from leaving Kenmure Street in Pollokshields at around 9:55am this morning.
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Protesters were on the scene 
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A protester under the Home Office vanCredit: Tahir Muftee 
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Protesters were chanting in the streetCredit: Tahir Muftee
Over 300 people chanted “Let them go, they are our neighbours” and “until our people are free, we won’t leave” after cops formed a ring of steel around the motor, believed to be holding two men.
The protest is ongoing with locals lying under the van to stop it from moving.
Ms Sturgeon said: “As constituency MSP, I am deeply concerned by this action by the Home Office, especially today in the heart of a community celebrating Eid.
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Protesters gathered around the vanCredit: Tahir Muftee 
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The crowd gathered in the middle of the street
“My office is making urgent enquiries and stands ready to offer any necessary assistance to those detained.”
She added: “The @ukhomeoffice action today is creating a dangerous and unacceptable situation in Pollokshields. As local MSP, I am also seeking urgent answers from them – they must resolve this situation ASAP.”
Humza Yousaf said he was unhappy that no Home Office minister could make themselves available to speak to him.
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He added: “Having spoken to the DG for Home Office in Scotland I have urged him to abandon the forced removal.
“He will consider next steps & I have requested an update.”
A smaller group of protester were seen confronting officers and shouting “racist police off our streets”.
It is understood there are two men inside in immigration enforcement van at the centre of the protest.
Some neighbours from the same block of flats the detained men were taken from could be seen hanging out their windows shouting support.
The van was marked Home Office immigration enforcement and was surrounded by officers standing guard.
One witness claimed that the protest was calling for the release of a number of immigrants who had been taken into the vehicle.
Scores of people were gathered blocking the way for the van to leave.
Pictures from the scene showed what appeared to be a protester BENEATH the Home Office van.
He said: “There is someone underneath the van which is preventing the van from moving.
“Therefore the Police cannot leave the area Due to health and safety of the person who is trying to stop the van from leaving.”
Other protesters were spotted sitting in the road attempting to stop the van from leaving.
Lotte, 26, an artist and member of the Scottish tenants union Living Rent, lives on a street nearby and joined the protest when she saw a small group outside the property on Kenmure Street at 10am on Thursday.
She said: “I’d like to express my utter disgust at the brutal removal of my neighbours from their home.
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Cops formed a barrier around the Home Office van
“It is an awful thing to do on any day, but today being Eid makes it 10 times worse. I hope they will let our neighbours go.
“Police are surrounding the Home Office van… they are refusing to answer questions about whether they have access to legal representation.
“They claim that they don’t know anything about the deportation and are just ‘protecting the Home Office’.”
Mohammad Asif, director of the Afghan Human Rights Foundation, was one of what he said were hundreds of neighbours protesting against the action.
The 54-year-old told the PA news agency: “We’re here against the hostile environment created by the Tories and the British state.
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A large police presence was on the sceneCredit: Tahir Muftee
“The same people who run from the British and American bombs put at the back of the van right now. And they are about to be deported.
“And it’s on Eid you know… the guys are not even allowed to pray. How do you do that in a democratic society? It’s a sad day.”
Mr Asif, who left Afghanistan as a refugee himself in 2000, said the atmosphere amongst the protesters is peaceful.
Sabir Zazai, chief executive of the Scottish Refugee Council, wrote on Twitter: “Not close to the details on this but this is shocking, disgraceful and racist if people are raided by enforcement officers amidst the pandemic on the day of #Eid.”
Tom, a neighbour who joined the protest, compared the immigration operation on Eid to a police raid on Christmas Day.
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“The solidarity shown today shows the community will not stand for their neighbours being dragged from their homes,” the 31-year-old, who did not want to give his surname, told PA.
“I’d ask Christians to reflect on what it would feel like to have your house raided on Christmas Day.”
He said the police presence was “increasing fairly rapidly”, with 10 vans at the scene by around midday.
A spokesperson for the force said: “Around 9.55 am this morning, Thursday, 13 May, 2021, police were called to an address in Kenmure Street, Pollokshields, following a protest by a large group of people.
“The call was made by UK Immigration Enforcement (UKIE) after a group of protesters gathered at the address where UKIE staff were in attendance.
“Police Scotland does not assist in the removal of asylum seekers.
“Officers are at the scene to police the protest and to ensure public safety.”
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Meanwhile SNP MSP Alison Thewliss called the incident “absolutely awful” as she praised the locals for the protest.
She said on Twitter: “This is absolutely awful, but heartened to see local residents in Pollokshields standing up for their neighbours and refusing to accept the brutality of the @ukhomeoffice.
“I am taking this matter up with Ministers.
“Not in our name.”
Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie said: “It’s horrific that people are forced to take such action to defend their most vulnerable neighbours from the brutality of the UK Home Office.
“We need an asylum system worthy of the name, and asylum support provided to a standard our communities can be proud of.”
The Home Office has been approached for information by the Scottish Sun.
Glasgow residents block immigration enforcement van and chant ‘let them go’
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