UMVA has learned that a dramatic confrontation unfolded in a north London neighborhood, where squatters have been living in a disused warehouse for seven years, as the building's owners attempted to change the locks.
The tense standoff occurred at Anstasia House near Green Lanes in Haringey, where supportive neighbors have been supplying the squatters with food and essentials. But on Monday morning, the scene turned chaotic as police armed with batons and riot shields clashed with the squatters and locals who tried to stop the owners from changing the locks.
As the crowds broke through the police line, a skirmish erupted, with some squatters claiming they were handled roughly by police. Aaliyah, a 22-year-old squatter, alleged that police "lost their cool" and hit people with batons, saying, "The police were swinging batons, they were being aggressive, they lost their cool. I was hit."
The squatters, who have made the warehouse their home, say they are a refuge for those who have fallen through the cracks in society. Aaliyah added, "We feel like this is a symptom of everyone struggling at the same time. I really want this to set a precedent that vulnerable people don’t deserve to be pushed out first."
Neighbors have rallied around the squatters, with one mother-of-two expressing her support, saying, "They are doing no harm. I’ve brought them food before. There are so many homeless [people] in London. The squatters are friendly and have become part of the community."
A local business owner echoed these sentiments, describing the squatters as "down on their luck and need somewhere to go." The community's backing of the squatters is clear, with many expressing frustration that the police are targeting them.
Footage of the clash has been widely circulated, showing police vans and Met officers surrounding the building. The squatters claim the owners attempted to cut their way through the front door but were blocked by people inside.
The Met has stated that their officers were met with violence as they tried to clear space for the owners to change the locks as part of a legal process to repossess the building. The force said police had faced a "hostile" group of up to 60 people and that five officers had been assaulted.
The incident has sparked a heated debate about the treatment of vulnerable people and the right to housing. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the squatters will not give up their makeshift home without a fight.
