Summary:
- The UK government condemned violent protests at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, which houses asylum seekers, as six individuals were arrested following clashes with police.
- The protest turned violent after dark with flares and projectiles thrown, leading to a dispersal order and ban on face coverings under public order laws.
- The protests were reportedly triggered by the arrest of an asylum seeker accused of sexual assault, prompting increased community tensions.
- Epping Forest District Council criticized the use of the centrally located Bell Hotel for asylum seekers, citing proximity to a school.
- Authorities, including Downing Street and Essex Police, strongly condemned the violence and affirmed the need to protect community and asylum seekers alike.
- Investigations continue amid concerns that far-right groups are influencing the unrest and attempting to exploit local sentiment.
The UK government has condemned violent incidents during a protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Epping, Essex, as six people were arrested in the latest outbreak of unrest surrounding immigration accommodations. Sunday’s demonstration, which began peacefully, escalated into clashes with police after dark, marking the second such confrontation at the Bell Hotel in less than a week.
One police officer was injured and a police vehicle damaged during the Sunday evening protest, where more than 100 people gathered chanting slogans such as “Save our kids” and “Send them home”. The demonstration followed earlier unrest at the same site on Thursday, where eight officers were hurt when similar protests turned violent.
Sunday’s gathering in Epping started amid growing local tensions, but what police described as “deliberate acts of violence” soon unfolded. Flares and other projectiles were thrown at officers as the protest intensified after nightfall. A force spokesperson confirmed that a dispersal order was enacted, in addition to a directive requiring demonstrators to remove face coverings, under public order legislation.
“We anticipate the need for more arrests and we will be reviewing the footage and investigating the offences over the coming days,” said Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow of Essex Police, adding that the force would “not tolerate violence against our officers or any part of the community”.
The unrest stems from anger following the arrest of an asylum seeker residing at the Bell Hotel who is accused of sexual assault. That incident, which led to charges earlier this month, ignited local concerns and has since drawn wider attention. The initial protest was held on July 13, progressing to more confrontational scenes on the 17th and 20th.
Epping Forest District Council has publicly criticized the use of the Bell Hotel as a temporary facility for asylum seekers, calling it “entirely unsuitable” for that purpose. “It is a location right in the centre of the town, with a primary school nearby,” council leader Chris Whitbread said. “We’ve raised our concerns repeatedly with the Home Office, but they haven’t been addressed.”
Across the UK, similar points of contention have become flashpoints. Last month saw unrest in Northern Ireland under comparable circumstances, and incidents last summer brought attention to the risks of misinformation about migrants circulating in online forums and community groups.
Law enforcement officers have responded with increased visibility and public order measures in response to the renewed violence. The priority now, police say, is not only to safeguard the asylum seekers residing at the hotel, but also to maintain peace within the broader community.
Chief Superintendent Anslow stated, “The violence directed at our officers is wholly unacceptable. We respect people’s right to protest, but not at the cost of public safety.”
Downing Street issued a sharp condemnation of the violence over the weekend, echoing prior comments by Prime Minister Keir Starmer regarding similar disturbances. “There can be no justification for thuggery against police officers who are simply doing their job,” a spokesperson for Number 10 stated.
While Sunday’s protest began with local participants, authorities say more organized groups may be attempting to influence the unrest. Analysts and community advocates have expressed growing concern over the role of far-right networks in escalating what began as localized tensions.
Background:
Here is how this event developed over time:
- Early July 2024: A 38-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker named Hadush Kebatu, staying at the Bell Hotel in Epping, was arrested and later charged with sexual assault against a minor, triggering local outrage.
- July 17, 2024: The first major protest occurred outside the Bell Hotel, resulting in violent clashes in which eight police officers were injured and two individuals were arrested for violent disorder.
- July 20, 2024: A second protest escalated into violence, with over 100 demonstrators throwing projectiles, flares, and smoke bombs at police, injuring another officer and damaging a police vehicle; six arrests were made.
- July 21, 2024: Essex Police issued dispersal orders, banned the wearing of face coverings during demonstrations, and condemned what they called “mindless thuggery,” pledging to pursue further prosecutions.
- July 22, 2024: Downing Street publicly condemned the attacks on police and reiterated the government’s opposition to far-right violence and intimidation tactics around asylum housing sites.
- Ongoing: The protests formed part of a wider pattern of tensions across the UK and in Northern Ireland, linked to community backlash over asylum-related incidents and the policy of housing asylum seekers in hotels.