At least a dozen demonstrators have been spotted in Peckham surrounding a coach on all sides before it was able to pick up any passengers.

By Hannah Kane, Deputy News Editor, Ciaran McGrath, Senior News Reporter

10:41, Thu, May 2, 2024 | UPDATED: 10:42, Thu, May 2, 2024

rwanda protest

At least a dozen protesters have blocked a coach on all sides (Image: Home Office)

A protest mob has blocked a coach sent to collect migrants bound for the Bibby Stockholm barge. At least 12 people are blocking the coach in Peckham this morning surrounding it on all sides.

It is believed the coach was set to collect eight asylum seekers living at a Best Western hotel in south east London, who had been told they would be collected on Thursday morning. 

It comes as 711 people were detected crossing the English Channel on Wednesday, the highest number on a single day so far this year.

We'll be bringing you all the latest updates in our live blog below.

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4 mins ago10:41 Ciaran McGrath

More than 700 people crossed Channel yesterday, figures reveal

The latest protests came the day after Home Office figurs revealed a total of 711 people crossed the English Channel yesterday, the highest number on a single day so far this year.

7 mins ago10:38 Ciaran McGrath

Protest organised by Black Lives Matter

The direct action is understood to have been organised in part by Black Lives Matter.

One of the coordinators, Kojo Kyerewaa, told the Guardian: “Our friends who are at a Home Office hotel got notification that they were going to be taken to the Bibby Stockholm today.”

“We know that the residents don’t want to leave and we know that the Bibby Stockholm is a dangerous place to put anyone. It’s unsanitary and one person has taken their own life being there and there’s been multiple attempts of suicide by people told that they’re going to the Bibby Stockholm.

“We have been organising to prevent that and it’s so far been successful. We’ve got at least 50 people blocking this coach on Peckham road right now.”

10 mins ago10:35 Hannah Kane

Map shows where the protest is taking place

The protest is happening outside the Best Western Hotel on Peckham Road, Peckham.

11 mins ago10:34 Hannah Kane

Welcome to our live blog

Hello and welcome to our live blog. We'll be bringing you all the latest updates from London as a coach being used to take migrants to the Bibby Stockholm barge has been blocked.

More to follow.

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