YOBS who left eight officers injured during a riot at a migrants’ hotel have been branded selfish, mindless thugs by a police chief.
Hundreds of people had gathered outside the premises on Thursday to voice concerns about the site being used to house asylum seekers.
MailThe yob launched himself onto the bonnet[/caption]
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He tried to grab onto the back of the van before pulling open the doors[/caption]
MailThe protester jumped up and down on the roof[/caption]
MailAnother thug rips off the wingmirror[/caption]
LNPA yob donning an England flag on his head threw himself onto a police van[/caption]
LNPThe chaotic scenes unfolded outside the Bell Hotel in Epping[/caption]
At one point, the thug jumped on top of the roof
The protest started peacefully but turned violent, with fireworks let off and eggs thrown at police and the hotel.
It was sparked by a 38-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker appearing in court charged with allegedly trying to kiss a 14-year-old girl.
Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, who had been living at the Bell Hotel, in Epping, Essex, denies sexual assault.
Tory councillor Chris Whitbread, leader of Epping Forest District Council, has repeatedly called for the hotel to be shut.
Essex Police Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper said those hurt in the protest had injuries to their hands and other cuts and grazes.
Police vehicles were smashed by yobs who climbed on them and there was damage to the building.
Mr Hooper said those behind the violence would feel the full force of the law and could expect a knock on their doors.
He said the violence, which began after the earlier peaceful event had ended, was started by people who “had come here intentionally to be involved in that kind of selfish vandalism and violence”.
Asked about further protests this weekend, he said: “If you are coming to Epping with the intention of carrying out mindless thuggery, that is not acceptable.”
Officers are looking at footage from body-worn cameras, drones and social media to identify suspects.
One online video appeared to show a police van drive into a man near a crowd of protesters.
It came after Dean Walters, 65, was charged with affray following reports of an assault during an earlier protest on Sunday at the hotel.
A second person was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of failing to comply with a dispersal order, and was still in custody last night.
A spokesman for PM Sir Keir Starmer said it was important legitimate protest did not cross a line into criminality, adding there was a clear Government policy to reduce the use of asylum hotels.
There are about 210 hotels under contracts with the Home Office to house migrants.
A Sun investigation revealed 339 defendants who had been living at asylum hotels had appeared in magistrate’s courts already this year.
Shutterstock EditorialA topless yob waving the Union Jack flag[/caption]
Shutterstock EditorialThe man who jumped on police vans was also seen pushing into the police cordon[/caption]
UKNIPThe aggressive protest continued into the night[/caption]
UKNIPYobs completely smashed in the windscreen on one police van[/caption]
LNPProtesters set off red smoke cannons[/caption]
UKNIPA cordon was formed by Essex Police officers[/caption]
Yesterday, Mohammed Akbari, 23, appeared at Isleworth crown court for allegedly raping a vulnerable 17-year-old when he was living at an asylum hotel.
His trial is in January.
Tyrese Charles, 22, also appeared at Southwark crown court yesterday to deny wounding charges against a man on a bus in London’s Oxford Street on in April.
He was living at an asylum hotel at the time.
He will be tried in November.
And Homa Ebrahimi, 38, living in a migrant hotel, was being sought last night after she failed to turn up at court to be sentenced for attacking another woman.
UKNIPDamage inflicted to one of the riot vans[/caption]
UKNIPOn thug was pinned down by the force[/caption]
AlamyThursday’s unrest had begun largely peacefully before scenes turned dark in the evening[/caption]
AlamyThe demonstrators had initially gathered to protest against the housing of an asylum seeker charged with assaulting a 14-year-old girl[/caption]
AlamyCounter-protesters from Stand Up To Racism were also seen outside the hotel[/caption]
AlamyDemonstrators used smoke and flares during the protest[/caption]
AlamyThursday marked the third day of unrest, following Mr Kebatu’s arrest last week[/caption]
AlamyPolice separating the anti-immigration protesters from counter-demonstrators[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
