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Bailiffs moved in to evict a group of squatters from a famous music venue in Soho which closed for redevelopment last month.

The group, around 15 to 20 people calling themselves ‘Bohemians for Soho’, have occupied 12Bar in Denmark Street for nearly a fortnight.



One man was arrested and remains in custody at a north London police station.

Live footage streamed by Occupy London shows police breaking down a wooden door as the protesters attempt to stop them entering with barricades.

In the footage a man can be heard shouting: “Wait for court tomorrow morning then you are going to execute us all.”

Later on the squatters can be seen huddling outside the building with banners reading “Save Soho” draped outside.

A spokesman for the Met said: “Police were made aware of a number of squatters inside a commercial premises in Denmark Street, central London.

“Approximately 15 to 20 people were inside the property. The majority left voluntarily and without incident.”

Consolidated Developments, owners of the Grade II-listed building, said they worked with police to evict the group from the bar.

The company applied to Central London County Court for an interim possession order which they were served on January 29, but the group declined to leave.

Police confirmed the property is now empty.

The activists have been hosting “community meetings with open mics” inside the venue, which helped launch the careers of Adele and KT Tunstall.

Earlier this week musicians such as Frank Turner, Mountain Feet and Those Unfortunates played impromptu gigs in support of the campaign.

Stephen Fry is among the celebrities backing the campaign and has written to politicians warning Soho is in danger of losing its creative identity if property development continues.