Two people have been arrested and several police officers were injured after a protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Epping descended into violence.
A crowd of men, some wearing masks and balaclavas, were seen squaring up to police officers, throwing bottles and jumping onto police vans on Thursday evening.
Police said eight officers were assaulted, some of whom suffered cuts and grazes as a result.
Far-right activists with banners and loudspeakers had joined local residents, including women and children, gathered outside the Bell Hotel for the protest.
Officers from Essex Police were mobilised as a counter-demonstration by Stand up to Racism was surrounded by groups of men.
Some protesters were seen using fireworks and throwing eggs, as a section of High Road was closed for the safety of the public and those protesting.
Essex Police confirmed several people had disrupted peaceful protests with projectiles and that it had identified several suspects it believed were responsible for damaging police vehicles, the hotel and assaulting officers.
Following the disruption outside the hotel, police said they also faced “significant hostility” in Epping town centre, with both the Met Police and British Transport Police being called in to help.
🚨BREAKING: It’s all kicking off at the protest in Epping! Protestors jump on top and try to smash the windows on the police vans! pic.twitter.com/pfdW5Do9lJ
— Queen Natalie (@TheNorfolkLion) July 17, 2025
A man was arrested on suspicion of affray following an alleged assault close to the Bell Hotel on Sunday.
Dean Walters, 65, of Corner Meadow in Harlow, has been charged with affray and released on bail to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court 24 September, with stringent conditions until then.
Another was arrested for for failing to comply with dispersal orders and was remanded in custody.
Assistant chief constable Stuart Hooper of Essex Police told reporters: “Whether it be our police vehicles being damaged, our officers being assaulted, we'll make sure that those people feel the full force of the law."
He added: "Eight of my officers - and not only my officers, we were supported by colleagues from other forces as well - were assaulted last night and that is absolutely, totally unacceptable.
"They come here to do a role to support our communities, they're a part of that community and that's what we won't tolerate.
"They had injuries to their hands and cuts and grazes as a result of the incidents last night."
Mr Hooper also said there were "no reports of anyone actually breaking into the hotel last night".
Chief superintendent Simon Anslow said: “I am sure those living in Epping have concerns following tonight. I share those concerns.
“We know the people who carried out these crimes 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.
“This was crime. Our detectives are already working through the footage of this evening – from our officers bodyworn camera, from our drones and from social media – and where offences are identified we will take action.
“People attended the earlier protest and did so peacefully, lawfully and responsibly. I’d like to thank them for expressing their views this way given the strength of feeling locally.
“The details of the ongoing sexual assault case can be found on our website, and I reiterate the importance for respect for the court process to prevent the release of any prejudicial information in relation to that case.”
It comes after Essex Police said two security guards received hospital treatment for serious injuries on Sunday, after they reported being attacked by a group of men at around 8pm while a protest was taking place.
A spokesperson for the force said the two victims managed to make their way through the protest and into the hotel, while initial investigations suggest the offences were “racially aggravated”.
Two local MPs have joined Conservative council leader Whitbread in calling for an end to the Bell Hotel being used to house asylum seekers.
Tensions flared ahead of the latest appearance in court on Thursday of an asylum seeker who has been charged with three counts of sexual assault.
Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, who came to Britain on June 29, has been charged with three counts of sexual assault, one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and one count of harassment without violence.
Kebatu has denied the offences and has been remanded in custody before a two-day trial next month at Chelmsford magistrates court.
Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow previously said: “Disruption and offending is never an appropriate response, no matter the strength of feeling in this case, and on this issue.
“People protesting peacefully, lawfully and responsibly cause us – and the wider public – no concern.
“However, we can never and will never tolerate criminal behaviour of any sort and anyone identified as committing crime will be dealt with robustly.”
