A dissident republican group has said that it occupied a branch of Santander bank at The Diamond in Derry this afternoon.
Saoradh, the political wing of the New IRA, issued a press statement saying it had staged the protest accusing Santander of closing down bank accounts in the city belonging to local republican families at the request of “Crown Forces”.
The statement says: “Saoradh activists in Derry occupied the local branch of Santander this afternoon.
“This direct action was taken in response to Santander being complicit in the MI5 and Crown Force targeting of working class people by freezing their accounts and restricting access to meagre benefits at the behest of the sinister British intelligence agency and British Crown Forces.
“Just over a year ago English commander of the occupation forces, Simon Byrne stated: ‘You carry on doing this, we will have your house; if you keep going, we will have your car, we will have your kids, we will have your benefits and we will put you in jail.’
“These were not idle threats.
“Over the past 12 months, Republican activists have faced the wrath of British Military Intelligence, British Crown Forces and every agency that they have weaponised.
“This includes banks, like Santander, who are willingly allowing themselves to be used as pawns by the British state.
“This is an ongoing tactic that has seen countless Republicans across Ireland targeted in such a manner that it threatens the livelihood of their children and families.
“Saoradh are in no doubt that sinister, and nefarious, agencies are at play including Simon Byrne’s Crown Forces.
“This ploy of freezing, restricting and then closing the bank accounts of Republicans is part and parcel of those same tactics which are strategic and directed.
“The toothless tiger Policing Board and Policing and Community Safety Partnerships are well aware of them, as is the Alliance Party micro-minister Naomi Long who is now the resident British Justice Minister.
“While the old tactics of political policing, draconian legislation and felon setting have continued unabated, these new tools have been directed at activists and their families to literally starve them into submission; much like the banks themselves by way of their capitalist interests and slavery via debt.
“Santander, the bank with a motto of simple, personal and fair.
“What is fair about closing a bank account of families without giving them answers?
“Santander state they are working for the people and communities but you’ve let the mask of capitalism show you care more about finance, business and control by foreign governments than standing up for a family.
“Santander and other banks under the control of MI5 have underestimated the Republican family.
“Everyone who has faced these attacks has received support from Saoradh and will continue to do so.”
Saoradh last year issued a statement claiming Lyra McKee was “accidentally killed” by the New IRA when a “republican volunteer” fired shots the PSNI in the city on April 18.
The group at that time had said: “The blame for last night lies squarely at the feet of the British Crown Forces, who sought to grab headlines and engineered confrontation with the community.”
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