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| Officers attacked at Epping asylum hotel protest, police say | Officers attacked at Epping asylum hotel protest, police say |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| About 400 people were at the site on Thursday | About 400 people were at the site on Thursday |
| Police officers were assaulted and their vehicles were damaged during a protest at a hotel used to house asylum seekers, Essex Police has said. | Police officers were assaulted and their vehicles were damaged during a protest at a hotel used to house asylum seekers, Essex Police has said. |
| Hundreds of people protesting about the use of the Bell Hotel in Epping were at the site on Thursday, as well as a smaller pro-refugee demonstration. | Hundreds of people protesting about the use of the Bell Hotel in Epping were at the site on Thursday, as well as a smaller pro-refugee demonstration. |
| The force said one officer suffered minor injuries to their neck and said the hotel itself was damaged. | The force said one officer suffered minor injuries to their neck and said the hotel itself was damaged. |
| Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper said those responsible would "feel the full force of the law" and confirmed two men had so far been arrested in relation to protests at the hotel. | |
| "If you were one of individuals responsible for damage, particularly towards my officers and vehicles, you can expect a knock on your door." | |
| Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper spoke to the media on Friday | |
| Police said some protesters threw eggs and set off fireworks on Thursday. | |
| Officers closed a section of High Road in Epping "for the safety of the public and those protesting". | Officers closed a section of High Road in Epping "for the safety of the public and those protesting". |
| The force said it had identified suspects who had carried out the criminal damage and assaulted officers, and was analysing footage from body-worn cameras, drones and social media. | The force said it had identified suspects who had carried out the criminal damage and assaulted officers, and was analysing footage from body-worn cameras, drones and social media. |
| "We know the people who carried out these crimes do not represent Epping or Essex," added Ch Supt Simon Anslow. | |
| "Nothing about the offending we saw tonight is representative of these communities, or the peaceful event that ended before this started." | "Nothing about the offending we saw tonight is representative of these communities, or the peaceful event that ended before this started." |
| Ch Supt Anslow said earlier demonstrations that took place at the site were peaceful, lawful and responsible. | Ch Supt Anslow said earlier demonstrations that took place at the site were peaceful, lawful and responsible. |
| BBC Essex political reporter Simon Dedman, who was at the scene, estimated there were about 400 people there on Thursday. | BBC Essex political reporter Simon Dedman, who was at the scene, estimated there were about 400 people there on Thursday. |
| About 40 pro-refugee demonstrators attended a protest in Epping on Thursday | About 40 pro-refugee demonstrators attended a protest in Epping on Thursday |
| Last week, Chris Whitbread, the Conservative leader of Epping Forest District Council, called for the Home Office to stop housing asylum seekers at the hotel. | Last week, Chris Whitbread, the Conservative leader of Epping Forest District Council, called for the Home Office to stop housing asylum seekers at the hotel. |
| He was joined by two local Tory MPs - Epping Forest's Neil Hudson and Alex Burghart, who represents Brentwood and Ongar. They claimed the Home Office did not understand the "seriousness of this situation". | He was joined by two local Tory MPs - Epping Forest's Neil Hudson and Alex Burghart, who represents Brentwood and Ongar. They claimed the Home Office did not understand the "seriousness of this situation". |
| It followed the arrest of an asylum seeker on suspicion of alleged sexual assaults in the town. | It followed the arrest of an asylum seeker on suspicion of alleged sexual assaults in the town. |
| Hadush Kebatu, an asylum seeker from Ethiopia, has been charged with three sexual offences, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. | Hadush Kebatu, an asylum seeker from Ethiopia, has been charged with three sexual offences, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. |
| He was remanded in custody at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court ahead of a further hearing. | |
| Weyman Bennett, a member of Stand Up To Racism who attended Thursday's rally, said: "Britain is a peaceful country in which people should be allowed to go about their business without being attacked." | Weyman Bennett, a member of Stand Up To Racism who attended Thursday's rally, said: "Britain is a peaceful country in which people should be allowed to go about their business without being attacked." |
| Millie Smith, who lives in Epping and attended the rally, said: "There has been a lot of misinterpretation of who is here and why they are here." | Millie Smith, who lives in Epping and attended the rally, said: "There has been a lot of misinterpretation of who is here and why they are here." |
| Ch Supt Anslow continued: "Disruption and offending is never an appropriate response, no matter the strength of feeling in this case, and on this issue." | Ch Supt Anslow continued: "Disruption and offending is never an appropriate response, no matter the strength of feeling in this case, and on this issue." |
| The Home Office said it had "begun to restore order [to the asylum system], with a rapid increase in asylum decision-making and the removal of more than 24,000 people with no right to be in the UK". | The Home Office said it had "begun to restore order [to the asylum system], with a rapid increase in asylum decision-making and the removal of more than 24,000 people with no right to be in the UK". |
| A 65-year-old man from Harlow was arrested on Thursday, in relation to an alleged assault which happened close to the hotel on Sunday. | A 65-year-old man from Harlow was arrested on Thursday, in relation to an alleged assault which happened close to the hotel on Sunday. |
| He was charged with affray and was released on bail. He is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court in September. | He was charged with affray and was released on bail. He is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court in September. |
| A second individual was arrested on Thursday for failing to comply with the orders that were given around dispersal, and was in custody, police said. | |
| Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. | Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. |