Deportation Protesters Block Heathrow Colnbrook Detention Center

A group of deportation protesters tried to block the path of coaches that were leaving Colnbrook Detention Center near Heathrow with failed asylum seekers. These failed asylum seekers were set to be returned to Iraqi Kurdistan.

A chartered flight was due to leave from the airport today carrying more than 60 failed asylum seekers. 45 of these failed asylum seekers came from Colbrook. All 60 asylum seekers were being taken to Iraqi Kurdistan, according to the campaigners.

Six of the protesters who were at the detention center encased their arms in plastic and glass tubes, as well as concrete blocks, to block the road of the detention center. This prevented coaches form being able to transport the refugees.

A spokesman for the Stop Deportation Network said about 15 of their members were blockading Colnbrook. Police came up and threatened to arrest them under section 14 of the Public Order Act, because they were blocking a public highway. The spokesman went on to say that the mass deportation charter flights are inhumane and an abuse of legal process.

The spokesman said that one of the detainees at Colnbrook did not want to leave and was manhandled by the security guards. Six other detainees took off their clothing and refused to get dress. Other reports show that one of the deportees had been on a hunger strike for 10 days while on protest of his forced removal.

If the flight gets the go ahead, it will be the ninth mass deportation flight to Iraqi Kurdistan in the past 10 months. The Home Office does not disclose any information on airlines, departure airports, or times.

A spokesman from the UK Border Agency said, in regards to the situation at Colnbrook, that the police would be dealing with the protest. He went on to say that UK asylum and immigrations are both compassionate and humane. He also noted that Iraqi civilians are not in any serious risk of indiscriminate violence in any part of Iraq.