Squatted Sorinkatu 8 Evicted Twice in Tampere

On Friday, the 18th of November, a group of about 70 people squatted a three story building right next to the main police station in Tampere. The squat was evicted later that night by about 15 uniformed police officers and at least 4 plainclothes police officers. At least two people were detained prior to and during the course of the eviction. The police also cleared the nearby street of Sorinkatu of all people and tried to detain a person for standing too close to the street. This person was however freed by a group of five comrades.
The house was to serve as a non-commercial, autonomous social space. The occupied house is owned by VR (the state-owned railroad company) and has been empty for at least two years. The City is planning to demolish the house in the near future to make way for the building of a huge stadium (called Keskusareena) and a new residential area of several high-rises. Although a separate project, the squatting project was initiated in the Tampere general assembly (Take the Square - Tampere).

The next Sunday a small group of people re-occupied the house, only to get evicted again on Tuesday morning. Two people were detained and let go after spending two hours in the neighboring police station.

The squatters will meet up today to discuss the situation in the newly established camp site in the backyard of the evicted house today at 18.00 (6 PM).

Sorinkatu 8 squatters
sorinkatu8@riseup.net

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