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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 damaged during a protest at a hotel used to house asylum seekers. | Police officers were assaulted and their vehicles damaged during a protest at a hotel used to house asylum seekers. |
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. |
Essex Police said one officer suffered minor injuries to their neck and eight officers in total sustained cuts, grazes and hand injuries. | Essex Police said one officer suffered minor injuries to their neck and eight officers in total sustained cuts, grazes and hand injuries. |
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper said those responsible would "feel the full force of the law" and confirmed two men had been arrested in relation to protests at the hotel. | Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper said those responsible would "feel the full force of the law" and confirmed two men had been arrested in relation to protests at the hotel. |
"If you were one of the individuals responsible for damage, particularly towards my officers and vehicles, you can expect a knock on your door," he added. | |
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper spoke to the media on Friday | Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper spoke to the media on Friday |
Fireworks were let off and eggs were thrown at officers and at the hotel, after what started as a "peaceful protest", police said. | Fireworks were let off and eggs were thrown at officers and at the hotel, after what started as a "peaceful protest", police said. |
Vans and vehicles were "smashed" and the building itself was also damaged. | Vans and vehicles were "smashed" and the building itself was also damaged. |
The disturbance prevented residents from being able to use Epping High Road, with police closing a section "for the safety of the public and those protesting". | The disturbance prevented residents from being able to use Epping High Road, with police closing a section "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. |
Video footage captured people throwing projectiles at police in Epping | Video footage captured people throwing projectiles at police in Epping |
Asked about discussions on social media about further protests at the weekend, Assistant Chief Constable Hooper said people should pass on any information to the force. | Asked about discussions on social media about further protests at the weekend, Assistant Chief Constable Hooper said people should pass on any information to the force. |
"We will not accept that kind of selfish vandalism we saw last night," he said. | "We will not accept that kind of selfish vandalism we saw last night," he said. |
"If you are coming to Epping with the intention of carrying out mindless thuggery, that is not acceptable." | "If you are coming to Epping with the intention of carrying out mindless thuggery, that is not acceptable." |
He said the "selfish criminality and violence" began at 18:30 on Thursday, with everyone dispersed from the site by 23:00. | He said the "selfish criminality and violence" began at 18:30 on Thursday, with everyone dispersed from the site by 23:00. |
Speaking earlier, Ch Supt Simon Anslow said the culprits "do not represent Epping or Essex". | Speaking earlier, Ch Supt Simon Anslow said the culprits "do not represent Epping or Essex". |
"Nothing about the offending we saw tonight is representative of these communities, or the peaceful event that ended before this started," he added. | "Nothing about the offending we saw tonight is representative of these communities, or the peaceful event that ended before this started," he added. |
BBC Essex political reporter Simon Dedman, who was at the scene, estimated there were about 400 people there. | BBC Essex political reporter Simon Dedman, who was at the scene, estimated there were about 400 people there. |
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, from Ethiopia, was charged with three sexual offences, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. | Hadush Kebatu, from Ethiopia, was 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. | 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." |
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. | 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. |