'Vandalised': the Home Office vans after the alleged incident
Robin de Peyer
Published: 26 July 2015
Updated: 16:35, 26 July 2015
Government vehicles reportedly had their tyres slashed and paintwork scratched by vandals while immigration officials launched a raid in east London.
Three vans market 'Immigration Enforcement' were said to have been targeted along with another unmarked silver car in Shadwell on Wednesday.
The incident apparently happened as more than a dozen officials were called to the area to round up three suspected illegal immigrants from Bangladesh who were thought to be working in a nearby shop.
The incident apparently happened as more than a dozen officials were called to the area to round up three suspected illegal immigrants from Bangladesh who were thought to be working in a nearby shop.
But when they returned to the vans, provided by the Home Office, they were reportedly pelted with eggs and found their vans had been damaged.
A witness told the Mail on Sunday: "I saw about five or six youths come out of nowhere and run towards the immigration vans. They had kitchen knives in their hands and they slashed the tyres and scratched the bodywork.
"It all happened very quickly, then they ran off. I think they were local Muslim hoodies just doing a prank, but it’s not funny. It’s the sort of thing that will cause this area problems now."
Others claimed on social media that garages then refused to sell tyres to enable the vans to get back on the road, though the claim was dismissed by local businesses.
Nur Choudhury wrote on Facebook after the alleged incident: "Immigration Enforcement officers in Shadwell. Their tyres got slashed, valves taken and cars scratched. The local garage refused to sell them tyres or help them. To top it all off they got egged from the local tower block and a few landed direct on their heads. Welcome to Shadwell :)".
A Home Office spokesman told the Mail: "We will not tolerate abuse or criminal damage. Offences will be reported to the police."
A Scotland Yard spokesman told the Standard that he could see no record of the incident, but the Mail quoted the Met as saying that there had been no arrests and inquiries were ongoing.
A witness told the Mail on Sunday: "I saw about five or six youths come out of nowhere and run towards the immigration vans. They had kitchen knives in their hands and they slashed the tyres and scratched the bodywork.
"It all happened very quickly, then they ran off. I think they were local Muslim hoodies just doing a prank, but it’s not funny. It’s the sort of thing that will cause this area problems now."
Others claimed on social media that garages then refused to sell tyres to enable the vans to get back on the road, though the claim was dismissed by local businesses.
Nur Choudhury wrote on Facebook after the alleged incident: "Immigration Enforcement officers in Shadwell. Their tyres got slashed, valves taken and cars scratched. The local garage refused to sell them tyres or help them. To top it all off they got egged from the local tower block and a few landed direct on their heads. Welcome to Shadwell :)".
A Home Office spokesman told the Mail: "We will not tolerate abuse or criminal damage. Offences will be reported to the police."
A Scotland Yard spokesman told the Standard that he could see no record of the incident, but the Mail quoted the Met as saying that there had been no arrests and inquiries were ongoing.
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