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| Rival groups stage protests at Epping migrant hotel | Rival groups stage protests at Epping migrant hotel |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Anti-migrant protesters and pro-immigration counter-protesters were kept apart by police as they staged rival demonstrations in Epping | Anti-migrant protesters and pro-immigration counter-protesters were kept apart by police as they staged rival demonstrations in Epping |
| Thousands of anti-migrant protesters and pro-immigration counter-protesters have been demonstrating outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Essex. | |
| Between 300 and 400 anti-migrant protesters were at the The Bell Hotel, Epping, according to BBC journalist James Bryant. | Between 300 and 400 anti-migrant protesters were at the The Bell Hotel, Epping, according to BBC journalist James Bryant. |
| Some were waving St George's flags while others had banners and signs with slogans including: "Protect our kids". | Some were waving St George's flags while others had banners and signs with slogans including: "Protect our kids". |
| But they were greatly outnumbered by an estimated 2,000 counter-protesters, many of whom were chanting: "Say it loud, say it clear - refugees are welcome here." | But they were greatly outnumbered by an estimated 2,000 counter-protesters, many of whom were chanting: "Say it loud, say it clear - refugees are welcome here." |
| Protests began at The Bell Hotel in Epping, which is being used to house asylum seekers, on 13 July | Protests began at The Bell Hotel in Epping, which is being used to house asylum seekers, on 13 July |
| They were carrying posters, banners and placards with slogans including "Unity is strength" and "Stand up to racism". | They were carrying posters, banners and placards with slogans including "Unity is strength" and "Stand up to racism". |
| Protests, including some violent clashes, began at the hotel on 13 July after a man living there was arrested and subsequently charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. | Protests, including some violent clashes, began at the hotel on 13 July after a man living there was arrested and subsequently charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. |
| Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and is in custody. | Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and is in custody. |
| Police said 2,000 pro-immigration counter-protesters made their way to the hotel from the town's station to a pen close to the anti-migrant protest. | Police said 2,000 pro-immigration counter-protesters made their way to the hotel from the town's station to a pen close to the anti-migrant protest. |
| They were surrounded by police officers who kept the two groups apart from each other. | They were surrounded by police officers who kept the two groups apart from each other. |
| Meanwhile, some of the anti-migrant protesters were singing along to patriotic music, including Rule, Britannia!. | Meanwhile, some of the anti-migrant protesters were singing along to patriotic music, including Rule, Britannia!. |
| Protesters gathered at the hotel with banners and St George's flags | Protesters gathered at the hotel with banners and St George's flags |
| Some protesters sang along to patriotic music outside the hotel | Some protesters sang along to patriotic music outside the hotel |
| Simon Dedman, a BBC reporter at the scene, said Reform UK district councillor Jaymey McIvor was among the crowd, and a Reform UK flag could be seen among the union jacks and St George's flags. | Simon Dedman, a BBC reporter at the scene, said Reform UK district councillor Jaymey McIvor was among the crowd, and a Reform UK flag could be seen among the union jacks and St George's flags. |
| One man was pinned to the ground by police and put in a police van near the anti-racism protests. | One man was pinned to the ground by police and put in a police van near the anti-racism protests. |
| The pro-immigration protesters have moved away from the hotel and appear to be walking in the direction of Ivy Chimneys Road and Theydon Bois. | The pro-immigration protesters have moved away from the hotel and appear to be walking in the direction of Ivy Chimneys Road and Theydon Bois. |
| Meanwhile, dozens of anti-migrant protesters have started to leave the common opposite The Bell Hotel, heading towards Epping town centre. | Meanwhile, dozens of anti-migrant protesters have started to leave the common opposite The Bell Hotel, heading towards Epping town centre. |
| About 2,000 pro-immigration counter-protesters were at the scene | About 2,000 pro-immigration counter-protesters were at the scene |
| As well as Essex Police, officers from the Metropolitan, Durham, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, West Midlands, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Cheshire, Dyfed-Powys and Hampshire forces were at the scene. | As well as Essex Police, officers from the Metropolitan, Durham, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, West Midlands, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Cheshire, Dyfed-Powys and Hampshire forces were at the scene. |
| British Transport Police has also been involved in the operation. | British Transport Police has also been involved in the operation. |
| The pro-immigration protesters made their way from the town's railway station to an area close to the hotel | The pro-immigration protesters made their way from the town's railway station to an area close to the hotel |
| Police stood between the rival groups as the pro-immigration group made their way back to the Tube station. | Police stood between the rival groups as the pro-immigration group made their way back to the Tube station. |
| There was some verbal confrontation between the two factions. | There was some verbal confrontation between the two factions. |
| The county force has put a dispersal order in place from 12:00 BST on Sunday to 08:00 on Monday, covering the town centre, transport hubs and networks. | The county force has put a dispersal order in place from 12:00 BST on Sunday to 08:00 on Monday, covering the town centre, transport hubs and networks. |
| This gives police the power to direct anyone suspected of committing anti-social behaviour, or planning to do so, to leave the area or face arrest. | This gives police the power to direct anyone suspected of committing anti-social behaviour, or planning to do so, to leave the area or face arrest. |
| Ten people have been charged with offences in relation to this month's disorder in the town, with defendants due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on 18 August. | Ten people have been charged with offences in relation to this month's disorder in the town, with defendants due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on 18 August. |
| On Saturday, about 400 anti-immigration protesters and 150 counter-protesters gathered for a demonstration outside a hotel in the Norwich area. | On Saturday, about 400 anti-immigration protesters and 150 counter-protesters gathered for a demonstration outside a hotel in the Norwich area. |
| Police said no arrests were made there. | Police said no arrests were made there. |
| Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. | Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. |