Squatters evicted over fears of risk to the Queen

SQUATTERS shacked up in a grand building metres away from Buckingham Palace have been evicted in an early- morning “stealth mode” operation.

The squatters were branded a possible risk to the Queen’s security for occupying the seven- storey property on Buckingham Gate, in the shadow of the monarch’s residence.

Eviction efforts took place at around 4am yesterday after the building’s owners filed a submission to the High Court.

Daniel, one of the 30 people who had been occupying the building for around four days, said more than 60 bailiffs executed the eviction.

The 37- year- old said: “It was pretty unprecedented to just wake up and find yourself surrounded by bailiffs. They came in stealth mode.

“I opened my eyes to bailiffs on the staircase.”

He described it as a “swift and silent eviction”, adding: “I didn’t see the bailiffs turn on the lights until I was outside at the door.”

With numerous evictions under his belt, having occupied properties for more than six years, Daniel said he had never seen one executed so quietly and with that number of bailiffs.

Quizzed on whether they will move into another property in the Buckingham Palace area, Daniel said: “We have to stay in the area.”