UK protestors are attempting to halt the arrest of asylum seekers in Peckham, London by the UK Government, who wants to move them to the offshore detention centre Bibbi Stockholm.
Many of these asylum seekers are facing possible deportation to Rwanda. The UK Government announced on Wednesday that it had launched several nationwide operations this week to arrest an unspecified number of asylum seekers, with a view to deporting them to Rwanda in nine to 11 weeks' time.
Controversial legislation passed on 23 April aims to deport thousands of asylum seekers to the East African country, where their asylum claims will be considered, with no option for them to return to the UK regardless of the outcome.
Around 30 people in London tried to block a bus they believed was going to transport asylum seekers from a hotel in the Peckham district to the Bibby Stockholm, an vessel based in the port of Portland, in Dorset and owned by the shipping and marine operations company Bibby Line. The barge was chartered by the authorities last year to house several hundred asylum seekers, and has been criticised for its "claustrophobic" conditions.
Other similar demonstrations have also taken place in recent days near Home Office immigration centres. The Guardian newspaper reported on Wednesday, quoting SOAS Detainee Support, that three asylum seekers were arrested at one of these centres in Croydon, south London, during a routine visit. One of them was told that he would be deported to Rwanda.
