WATCH: Protestors surround van in Edinburgh amid Home Office operation
The Home Office insists the protest didn't impact the outcome of the raid
Last updated 6th May 2022
Dozens of protestors have surrounded a van in the centre of Edinburgh, following claims it was part of a Home Office immigration raid in the area.
A pro-refugee charity posted on social media encouraging demonstrators to go to Nicolson Square in the capital's South Side on Thursday evening, saying 'immigration vans and police' had been seen there.
More than a hundred people gathered for the protest, which included chants and bagpipes - with one demonstrator pictured sitting on top of the van itself.
They were later told the people being detained would be 'de-arrested' if they dispersed.
What appeared to be Home Office staff then left the area, amid more chants from protestors.
Later in the evening a spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “Around 6.45pm on Thursday, 5 May, 2022 police were called to an address on Potterrow, Edinburgh following reports of a large protest outside a property.
“Officers are currently in attendance at the location and enquiries are ongoing.”
The Home Office issued a response to the protests on Friday morning, saying "to suggest that protesters had an impact on the outcome is wrong."
It says two people were encountered in breach of immigration laws and were placed on immigration bail and thanked Police Scotland for helping with the 'intelligence-led' operation.
A Home Office spokesperson added: “It is unacceptable for people to attempt to block legitimate actions of law enforcement as they work to remove those with no right to live or work in the UK.
“Through our Nationality and Borders Act we are taking steps to fix the broken system to make it fair to those in genuine need and firm on those who seek to abuse it. An operation was carried out in Edinburgh today and to suggest that protesters had an impact on the outcome is wrong.”
The demonstration drew comparisons with a similar protest in Glasgow's Pollokshields area last year, where hundreds of people surrounded an immigration removal van in a bid to stop the detention of two Indian nationals.