Protesters block and SLASH tyres of coach taking illegal migrants from London hotel to Bibby Stockholm barge
MASKED protesters have slashed the tyres of a coach transporting illegal migrants from a hotel to the Bibby Stockholm barge.
Demonstrators surrounded the coach shortly after it arrived at the Best Western hotel in Peckham, south east London, at 8am.
The bus has been sent to take eight migrants staying at the hotel to the Bibby Stockholm in Portland, Dorset.
But the group of at least a dozen protesters have prevented anyone from being taken on board.
The migrants were reportedly told they would be collected from the hotel in this morning and transported to the barge.
Instead, the they are understood to remain stuck at the hotel along with Home Office staff.
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It comes as more than 700 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats yesterday making it the busiest day for arrivals so far this year.
Official Home Office figures show 711 people made the dangerous journey in 14 boats on the day the first detentions were made for those set to be flown to Rwanda.
Crossings are already at a record high for the start of the year with yesterday’s numbers taking the total to 8278.
Detentions are continuing this week with people held as they turn up to routine immigration appointments or in raids at their accommodation.
The Home Office has refused to reveal exactly how many have been detained so far but said the cohort included both men and women.
Hundreds of migrants have been moved to the Bibby Stockholm while their asylum claims are processed since it was opened in August.
Asylum seekers have previously been told they face being made homeless if they refuse to move out of taxpayer-funded hotels and onto the vessel.
