Dozens of people were evicted in St Peter’s Square early this morning.
High court baliffs converged on the “red tent camp” next to Manchester Central Library and moved residents on, binning tents, documents and belongings.
This comes following a possession order granted to Manchester City Council to evict 36 people on February 11.
Several of the residents had to stand on their tents to prevent them being thrown away and were bodily moved and pushed.
Belongings binned by the balliffs included personal documents, clothes and professional hair dressing equipment, according to the people evicted.
Temesgn Petros, 45, a refugee from Ethiopia, said: “They explain nothing. They give us nothing. How are we meant to look towards a good future?
“My life exists between the Ethiopian government and the UK Home Office.”
The eviction disrupted peak time travel at the busy tram station in St Peter’s Square.
Mary, 23, who witnessed the evictions, said: “The council have a duty to house these people. Instead they chose to come and evict people from where they were being forced to sleep in tents.
“Not only is this a huge waste of taxpayer money, but it also is completely inhumane.”
A town hall spokesperson told the M.E.N. after the court ruling in Feburary that “help is at hand” for those facing homelessness in Manchester.
They said: “However, with many still refusing to leave despite being repeatedly asked to do so – and other options having been exhausted – securing this order was a necessary step.
“Support is available through established procedures for the people who have been camping in St Peter’s Square.”
Police and Council officers were also in attendance.
Join the discussion