Tension erupts beyond London hotel sheltering migrants
Epping Anti‑Migrant Protest Escalates, Police Arrest Five
Police reported that five individuals were detained for “violent disorder” after the demonstration outside the Bell Hotel in north‑east London’s Epping district.
Protest Turns Violent
Initially a peaceful rally, tensions erupted when rioters hurled bottles and smoke bombs at officers. Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow remarked that the disturbance had “mindless thuggery”, with several attendees injuring a police officer and damaging a vehicle.
Crowd and Rhetoric
- The hotel’s entrance was guarded by police vans as several hundred protestors gathered.
- Shouts of “save our children” and “send them home” echoed loudly.
- Banner slogans called for the expulsion of “foreign criminals.”
Underlying Tensions
Subdays of simmering unrest followed the charge against a 38‑year‑old asylum seeker. He was accused of attempting to kiss a 14‑year‑old girl; the court denied the allegation when he appeared on Thursday.
Injuries and Wider Riots
On Thursday evening, eight police officers sustained injuries during clashes. Last summer anti‑immigration riots shook the UK after three girls were stabbed to death in the north‑west town of Southport, a teenager who turned out to be British‑born.
In several towns, riots targeted hotels housing asylum seekers, including an attempt to set fire to an establishment in Rotherham, in north‑east England.
