A string of violent protests has erupted outside a hotel in Essex that is believed to house asylum-seekers in what police condemned as “mindless thuggery”.
More than 1,000 protesters attended demonstrations outside the Bell Hotel in Epping across 13, 17 and 20 July.
The protests came after a 38-year-old asylum seeker was charged with sexual offences against a teenager and an adult in the town. Hadush Kebatu, from Ethiopia, had arrived by boat just eight days before his arrest. He denies the charges.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said “irresponsible behaviour” at the protests, which left police officers and hotel workers injured, would not be tolerated, branding some protesters “thugs and vandals”.
He added the force had made 10 arrests since the demonstrations, with five charged over violent disorder.
Here is everything we know about the protests:
What happened at the protests?
Protests on Sunday 20 July saw a large number of people gather outside the Bell Hotel, as an initially peaceful demonstration descended into violence with bottles and flares thrown.
The events marked the third time in eight days that violent scenes unfolded outside the Bell Hotel, which is thought to be temporarily housing asylum seekers.
Two security guards working the Bell Hotel were also attacked at a bus stop after the first protests on Sunday 13 July. The attack is being treated as a racist hate crime.
Reports indicate that most of those in attendance at the initial protest were local people concerned about the arrest of Kebatu and the location of the asylum accommodation.
Signs reading ‘Protect Our Kids’ could be seen in the crowds during the initial hours when the protest was peaceful, with families in attendance with their children.
Footage from the scenes after the second protest on Thursday 17 July shows rioters attacking police vans, with one man appearing to be struck by a vehicle that was attempting to navigate the crowds. Eight police officers were injured following what again started as a peaceful protest outside the hotel.
What sparked the protests?
The events were organised in response to the arrest of Kebatu, who denies all charges and remains in custody. He is charged with three counts of sexual assault, alongside inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and harassment without violence.
On 10 July, Essex Police confirmed Kebatu had been arrested after being alerted to “reports of a man acting inappropriately towards a teenager”.
The initial protest on 13 July was sparked after Kebatu was charged.
On Monday, a court heard Kebatu is alleged to have attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl.
What have the authorities said?
Following the protests, Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said: “Disappointingly we have seen yet another protest, which began peacefully, escalate into mindless thuggery with individuals again hurting one of our officers and damaging a police vehicle. For anyone who thinks we will tolerate their thuggery – think again.”
Chief Constable Harrington told the media on Wednesday: “Who’s important to Essex Police – the communities of Epping, and the right for everybody there to go about their business lawfully and peacefully. What it’s not about is allowing people to commit crime, to commit violence, or to disrupt those communities.”
The policing boss denied reports officers had been “overwhelmed and outnumbered” at the protest, insisting there was a “robust policing operation” in place.
He also said it was “not true” that police had driven protesters to the site of the hotel, telling members of the press people came to the protest “of their own volition”.
Chief Constable Harrington went on to urge people to “comment responsibly” on social media reports, saying online posts can have “real consequences to the communities of Essex”.
On Tuesday, deputy prime minister Angela Rayner issued a stark warning to Keir Starmer, saying the UK faces a repeat of last year’s summer riots unless “the government shows it can address people’s concerns”.
She told the prime minister it was “incumbent on the government to acknowledge the real concerns people have and to deliver improvements to people’s lives in their communities” amid worries the country could see a repeat of the violence sparked in Southport.
At the press conference on Wednesday, Chief Constable Harrington said police were aware of the plans, and that forces across the country were “working together” to prevent further unrest, adding they had “learned a lot” last summer.
He also thanked those who had protested peacefully, adding many “feel firmly about an issue that concerns them and have expressed that well”.
Epping Forest District Council has called on the Home Office to close asylum seeker hotels, including the Bell Hotel. Following the disruption, council leader Chris Whitbread repeated concerns that its location is “entirely unsuitable”.
He also condemned the violence that has broken out there.
Were the far-right involved?
Experts from far-right research group Hope Not Hate say this series of gatherings, which began with largely peaceful intent, was co-opted by actors intent on causing violence.
Several prominent members of the far right were in attendance, analysis by the group’s Right Response Team found, with figurehead Tommy Robinson drawing attention to the initial protest.
Footage and photography from the events show people with links to groups such as the British National Party (BNP), Britain First, Patriotic Alternative and neo-nazi group Blood & Honour all in attendance.
The Bell Hotel has regularly attracted anti-migrant protests organised by groups such as these since 2020, Hope Not Hate explained, with actors capitalising on the recent concern to reignite racial tensions.
Nick Lowles, CEO at Hope Not Hate, said: “The events in Epping are a symptom of a recurring trend within the far right: co-opting the high emotions of local people to whip up hatred, pushing what could have been a peaceful protest towards violent disorder.
“The individuals engaging in violence are not representative of the people of Epping, who are understandably angry following the assault of a local girl.
“Instead, they sow division in the local area, which does nothing to assist the victims of sexual abuse.”
