Squatters who took over £3m mansion are FINALLY evicted after blighting upmarket neighbourhood for two months



Bloody clashes erupted after squatters who took over a £3million mansion were turfed out by riot police yesterday.

The violence led to 11 arrests and ‘blood on the pavement’, according to a witness.

The police intervention followed a steady increase in complaints from neighbours of the eight-bedroom Grade II listed house.



Confrontation: Police in riot gear stand guard during the eviction which took place on Sunday morning

Tense: Officers said they came under attack from squatters, and that they had received complaints from neighbours about late-night noise at the house

Reports of late parties and items being thrown from the roof of the building led to an increase in tension.

Police were called to the property in the early hours of yesterday, and returned about five hours later.

On this occasion they say they were attacked by some of the 35 occupants, so six riot vans and 20 officers were brought in to storm the building.

There were claims that a 17-year-old boy had his nose broken and a pregnant woman was dragged from the mansion in Clifton, Bristol.

Raid: Squatter Raol Duke took these pictures of officers as they entered the home

Witness Minnie Crosse, 27, said: ‘It all kicked off, there was fighting and blood on the pavement.

‘At one stage it looked like it was going to be too much for the police, they didn’t seem to know how to handle it.

‘The eviction and violence were always going to happen and I’m glad it is done. There have been numerous problems since they moved in. On one occasion I had to dodge as they threw a plastic bottle from the roof.’

Yesterday several streets in the affluent area of the city were closed by police.

Squatter Raoul Duke, 22, said the police behaved ‘horribly’, and claimed they dragged a pregnant woman from the property.

He said: ‘We were having a private birthday party when 20 police came into the living room and tried to turn off the speakers, hitting a few people on their way through.

‘The police were pushed back and they retreated but later on six vans and loads of cops arrived and forced us out.

‘A 17-year-old had his nose broken during his arrest. It was horrible. There are now 35 homeless people looking for somewhere to sleep tonight.’

Mr Duke denied the squatters had been a problem and claimed they had a good relationship with most of the neighbours. However there have been recent complaints that the squatters had been hitting golf balls off the roof and engaging in anti-social behaviour.

Sit down strike: Nearby streets were closed for much of the day as officers tried to manage the tense situation

This way please: Squatters are directed away from the scene by an officer



Anger: One of the squatters claimed police dragged a pregnant woman from the house during the melee and said more than 35 people would now be homeless

Many of the squatters moved in to the empty house in February after they had been evicted from Bristol’s historic College Green, which had been turned into a muddy swamp by the ‘Occupy’ protest movement.

Haile Bless outside Cliftonwood House: Squatters moved into the £2.9million property in February and even gave Mail writer Robert Hardman a guided tour

They later gave a guided tour of the mansion to Mail writer Robert Hardman.

The mansion was owned by local businessman Petros Birakos, who recently tried to sell the three-storey property for £2.9million.

However, the property was repossessed and is currently owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland. The house, which is accessed through wrought-iron electric gates, has numerous reception rooms, eight bedrooms, four bathrooms, a vaulted cellar, gym and an empty indoor swimming pool.

Avon and Somerset Police confirmed 11 arrests were made.

The force said officers arrived at the property at 10.30am to follow up complaints about noise and came ‘under attack’ from squatters who threw missiles from the roof.

Teams of riot officers arrived at the scene to carry out a full, forced eviction.

A spokesman said: ‘Nine people were arrested for public order offences and two for assaulting a police officer.

‘A few officers suffered minor injuries. The property is now back in the hands of its rightful owner.’

Eviction day: About 20 officers from Avon and Somerset Police entered the 18th century mansion following reports of a late night party