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Squatters occupy Saif Gaddafi's London home

Thursday, 10 March 2011 11:17 AM

Squatters have taken over Saif al-Islam Gaddafi's London home and say that they will not leave until the property's assets are returned to the Libyan people.

Yesterday (Wednesday) morning, a group calling itself 'Topple The Tyrants' took up residence in the property, which is in Hampstead Garden Suburb and owned by the second son of the Libyan dictator.

Spokesman Montgomery Jones told the BBC: "Saif Gaddafi and the Gaddafi regime have taken millions of pounds, billions of pounds in fact, away from the people of Libya and used residences like this. We've taken it so that it will be returned to its rightful owners, who are the Libyan people."

The Georgian-style property, which was recently on the market for over £10.9 million but was withdrawn from sale last month, has eight bedrooms, a swimming pool and, according to the squatters, flat-screen TVs in "almost every room".

Saif Gaddafi's Hampstead house is reportedly managed by a holding company registered in the British Virgin Islands. Topple The Tyrants claim that they were alerted to its existence – and address – by an anonymous tip-off, though they have not explained how they gained access to the property, nor how many squatters are in there.

It would seem that the group has some experience of squatting, having demonstrated media savvy by courting photographers with roof-climbing antics, and legal savvy by posting a notice declaring their rights as squatters on the front door.

The Metropolitan Police were called to the address but have not arrested anybody and are treating the case as a civil matter.

When asked by a Guardian reporter whether they planned to target further properties, a squatter confirmed, "If they are owned by dictators, absolutely."

The UK government froze assets belonging to Col Muammar Gaddafi and reported to be worth around £1 billion last week.

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