Gesú squatters housed in municipal crisis centre

Squatters removed by police from the disused Gesú convent in St-Josse in the early hours of Monday morning have been lodged temporarily in a municipal crisis centre, mayor Emir Kir said. The situation of each of the 119 squatters remaining at the time of the eviction, among them 38 children, will be investigated by social services, Kir said.

The squatters, some of whom have been living in the convent for two years, were removed by police in what lawyers for the squatters said was a “heavy-handed” eviction – a claim denied by Kir. Prior to the police action, the number of squatters had been estimated at around 200, including 90 children. However some squatters left on Sunday night before police arrived. Around 100 police took part in the eviction.

“All of the people removed from the convent who come to us and for whom we have case files, will be rehoused,” said Christine Pauporté of the municipality's security department. “An emergency rehousing has been arranged for this evening. During the coming week people will be housed temporarily, some of them in nine new apartments belonging to the municipality, which are capable of housing 50 people.”