Police have released men detained by Border Force officials in Glasgow after protesters surrounded their van and prevented it from leaving.
Demonstrators in Kenmure Street, Pollokshields, blocked the immigration enforcement van for hours on Thursday, with one lying underneath the vehicle.
Around 200 protesters were at the scene, with chants of “Leave our neighbours, let them go” and “Cops go home” being heard as a ring of police stood around the van.
Shortly after 5pm, Police Scotland released a statement saying the men would be released.
One of the men, Lakhvir Singh, 34, from India, spoke to the PA news agency through a translator.
“At around 9.30am immigration enforcement carried out a raid and we were taken to security in the van.
“There were only five or six people at the time but word spread and then there were crowds of hundreds.
“We are so grateful for the support.”
Nicola Sturgeon has said the Home Office needs to ask “itself hard questions” after mass protests took place over the detention of men in Glasgow.
Reactions
Of course not everyone agreed with their release, but those that did indicated it showed the strength of community of the people of Glasgow and the support from around the UK and beyond.
1.
Why would I care about asylum seekers in Glasgow? Simple. Because I wouldn’t be here if my grandfather hadn’t been given haven as a refugee from the Armenian genocide.
— Peter Jukes (@peterjukes) May 13, 2021
Given the British Isles were covered in ice 10 thousand years ago, we’re all bloody immigrants
2.
This is incredible.
— Sawyer Hackett (@SawyerHackett) May 13, 2021
Two refugees were detained by immigration enforcement in Glasgow, Scotland. Neighbors and activists surrounded the van they were detained in until they were released. pic.twitter.com/v5sRhVq7gh
3.
This is Lakhvir Singh who was locked in the back of UK Immigration Enforcement van for 8 hours today, before ‘people power’ in the Glasgow community forced a u-turn. He’s now released and back with family. Our exclusive on @itvnews at 10 tonight. https://t.co/mrJ10eXH0p pic.twitter.com/7Rqxl9RSIM
— Peter A Smith (@PeterAdamSmith) May 13, 2021
4.
Thanks to the people of Glasgow, politicians including @PaulJSweeney @alisonthewliss to @NicolaSturgeon @HumzaYousaf & the many activists including @MohammadAsif_1 who mobilised 100s, immigration raid failed today & 2 men are now free ❤️✊? pic.twitter.com/2P4rGiCOz4
— Aamer Anwar?✊?#BlackLivesMatter (@AamerAnwar) May 13, 2021
5.
Tomorrow’s front page ?️
— The National (@ScotNational) May 13, 2021
Glasgow: 1
‘Team UK’: 0
People power forces despicable Home Office to back down pic.twitter.com/9iKn3I8IVW
6.
“In so happy that my fate bought me here to live in Glasgow, where the people will come out onto the streets to help one of their own” https://t.co/6qWxWtJCLY
— Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) May 13, 2021
7.
Something unexpected is the trigger, the last straw. Maybe Glasgow today is the beginning of the end of the protofascist Brexiter would-be pulverisation of the UK into an internment camp serving a neoTory kleptocracy currently contriving to make its dictatorship permanent.
— A C Grayling #FBPE 3.5% #Reform #Rejoin #FBPA ? (@acgrayling) May 13, 2021
8.
The scenes in Kenmure St in Glasgow today – and the outcome – remind me so strongly of that inspirational motto of the Highland Land League a century and a half ago – Is treasa tuath na tighearna ….the people are mightier than a lord…
— Michael Russell (@Feorlean) May 13, 2021
9.
Thank you Glasgow. https://t.co/qba4R3WSoR
— Gary Younge (@garyyounge) May 14, 2021
10.
Amazing! Marching to local mosque to ensure the men detained for 9 hours reach there safely #RefugeesWelcome #Pollokshields #Glasgow #solidarity pic.twitter.com/dpOdYKytDb
— Stand Up To Racism (@AntiRacismDay) May 13, 2021
11.
Mother Glasgow tends her wee flock pic.twitter.com/CF5eCQfhgG
— Janey Godley (@JaneyGodley) May 13, 2021
12.
Wow! The people of Glasgow are truely amazing. This is the kind of humanity this Government is incapable of understanding https://t.co/lOVH2Hvlv9
— Peter Stefanovic (@PeterStefanovi2) May 13, 2021
13.
And finally…
??????? ?
— Dr Mike Galsworthy (@mikegalsworthy) May 13, 2021
Glasgow I salute you.
Related: Sturgeon: Home Office has ‘questions to answer’ after Glasgow detentions spark protests