HOUSING activists have seized a new block of flats on a south London council estate set for demolition after being violently evicted from the building next door.

The second occupation on the Aylesbury Estate was “going strong” yesterday as squatters sat on the roof basking in the sun surrounded by police officers on the ground.

The building was taken on Tuesday — moments after bailiffs and 200 riot police stormed into flats, arresting six occupiers and evicting dozens more.

Fight for the Aylesbury activists had lost their appeal against the Interim Possession Order (IPO) granted to Southwark Council earlier that day.

Southwark Council’s attempt to take control over all of the estate was dismissed by a judge at the Lambeth County Court.

The originally squatted building had been under occupation for over two weeks.

Speaking to the Morning Star from the rooftop of the newly occupied building, protesters said they would stay as long as they could resist eviction.

“The fences erected by Southwark Council last week are now festooned with banners,” they added in a public statement.

“We are in good spirits, and thank all those who have shown solidarity and brought us breakfast, etc. We encourage people to continue to come down and support the Aylesbury Estate Occupation.”

Aylesbury resident for over 40 year Piers Corbyn said tenants stood 100 per cent behind occupiers.

“In 2001 there was a ballot which voted 73 per cent to stop the council’s plan to dispose of the estate and tenants voted to keep the whole estate 100 per cent for council housing.

“More people voted on that than any other elections around here.”

Mr Corbyn labelled the events of Tuesday night “unjustifiable in any terms.”

“A horrific operation treating us as if we are on the Gaza Strip,” he added.

“This is the new face of social cleansing in London and this is going to carry on unless we stop it.

“As far as I am concerned this is the battle ground and we are staying here.”

The whole of Elephant & Castle area was on lockdown as armed police patrolled streets surrounding the Aylesbury.

Local resident Jon Wheatley told the Morning Star it “looked like a major terrorist incident or something similar.

“When did the police start to serve the needs of property developers over people?”

joanaramiro@peoples-press.com