Gadaffi house squatters: give this back to the Libyan people

The protesters, some of whom identified themselves as Libyans, told Channel 4 News they want the mansion to be sold and the money given “back to Libyan people”.

Wearing the flag of the Libyan rebel movement around his neck, one of the protestors said: “We are not going to leave until we make sure this house, being used by the Libyan people – not Colonel Gaddafi’s government – is sold and the money is sent back to the Libyan people.”

The house is in North London’s upmarket Hampstead Garden Suburb and is thought to be worth in the region of £11m.

Pointing to Saif Gaddafi’s house another protestor added: “We believe this wealth belongs to the people and directly should go to the Libyan people.”

Staying put

Although the British government has frozen the British-based multi-million pound assets of the Gaddafi regime, the protestors, who are calling themselves “Topple the Tyrants”, have said they do not believe Britain has seized all of the regime’s wealth.

One protestor said: “We are not going to leave until we make sure this house goes back to the Libyan people.”

But the squatters’ presence has met with a mixed response from local people. One protestor when asked if he was concerned about the reaction from local residents, said: “We are going to be better neighbours than Saif himself.”

A local householder, Geoffrey Bernstein who works in finance, gave the squatters a cautious welcome. He said: “I don’t support breaking into people’s houses but in this case I’m prepared to make an exception.”

But the London Assembly Member for Barnet, Brian Coleman, said: “The foreign secretary should take action immediately to seize Gaddafi’s son’s house in Hampstead Garden Suburb, in my constituency.

“The squatters, who are a blight to the area, should be evicted and moved on to protect the nearby residents.”