Protestors 'liberate' Oligarch mansion in central London

Police are still trying to get protestors down who have taken over the balcony of a central London mansion, supposedly owned by oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

The squatters broke into the property in Belgrave Square at around 1am on Monday and declared that it "belongs to Ukrainian refugees".

From the balcony they hung a banner saying 'This building has been liberated.'

Mr Deripaska, an industrialist who has had close links with the British political establishment, was targeted with sanctions by the Government last week.

He has been described as "a prominent Russian businessman and pro-Kremlin oligarch", who is "closely associated" with both the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin.

His wealth is estimated to be £2.3 billion and he has a multimillion-pound property portfolio in the UK which, according to a 2007 High Court judgment, includes the house at 5 Belgrave Square. Records indicate it has not changed hands since and is owned by an offshore British Virgin Islands company.

The street has also been cordoned off with at least 10 police vehicles and at least 32 officers visible on the scene.

In a statemen the Metropolitan Police said the the number of officers was part of a "flexible and proportionate response".

Officers wearing harnesses first tried to deploy a ladder to access the balcony but after the squatters sat in the way to obstruct them, a JCB crane was moved in to lift them up instead.

Police wearing riot gear also used a drill to break open the front door and enter the house.

Scotland Yard said in a statement: "Officers have completed a search of the property in Belgrave Square and are satisfied there are no protesters inside.

"We continue to engage with those on the balcony as we balance the need for enforcement with the safety of all involved."

Number Ten's looking at whether such homes could be used to house refugees.

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