More riots could break out over the summer after several protests outside hotels housing migrants in Essex and Norfolk this week, the Government has been warned.
Epping Forest District Council leader Chris Whitbread described his town as a “powder keg” following violent demonstrations outside the Bell Hotel on Sunday, with more protests believed to be planned for this weekend.
It comes as more than 100 people gathered outside a building housing asylum seeker families in Norfolk on Monday night after the Home Office announced its occupants would be changed to single, adult men.
Conservative councillor Mr Whitbread told BBC Newsnight: “Fair-minded people within the local community, initially protesting peacefully, want the hotel closed.”
He added: “It's a powder keg now and we need to get something done and we need the Home Office to listen.”
Last July, mosques and asylum seeker hotels were targeted when violence erupted in the wake of three girls being murdered by Axel Rudakubana at a dance class in Southport.
Disorder across the UK was fuelled by online posts falsely claiming Rudakubana was a migrant.
A recent review of the police response to last summer's riots found forces have not kept up with the risks posed to the public by social media.
More than 1,000 people gathered outside The Bell Hotel in separate demonstrations over two nights last week. The protests were initially sparked by the arrest and charge of an asylum seeker on suspicion of alleged sexual assaults in the town.
Six men were arrested when the latest protest turned violent with detectives investigating incidents of violence and criminal damage hunting three more.
Far-right activist Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has suggested he will attend a further planned protest this weekend.
Mr Whitbread said: “My concerns are for next week, or this week, if Tommy Robinson turns up... We really have got to get this back under control."
About 150 people gathered outside a hotel housing asylum seeker families in Norfolk on Monday night.
The protest began after the Home Office announced plans to change the occupants of The Park Hotel in Diss to single adult males.
Demonstrators chanted "we want our country back" while about 30 counter protesters held signs that read "refugees welcome".
South Norfolk Council said it opposed changing the use of the hotel to single men and said it learned about the plan in a brief email from Whitehall last week.
The Home Office said it was discussing the issue with the council and local MP Adrian Ramsay.
