Migrant hotel protests descend into chaos as protesters clash with police officers ahead of weekend of anarchy

Swarms of anti-migrant protesters descended upon migrant hotels across the country on Friday evening ahead of a weekend of planned demonstrations. 

Major demonstrations took place in London, Essex, Altrincham, Bournemouth and Chichester amid fears a growing anti-migrant sentiment could explode into a second summer of riots in Britain.

Protests first blew up outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, last month after an Ethiopian asylum seeker was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl – which he denies – but demonstrations have since spread elsewhere. 

Mayhem resumed in Epping on Friday night as flares were set off by protesters waving England and Union Jack flags, while dozens of women all wearing pink blocked the road.

Meanwhile, footage showed protesters scuffling with police outside the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf, east London. Officers were seen pinning some activists down the ground, with two arrests made.

One was an anti-migrant protester who was detained after a bottle was thrown at officers.

The other was a member of the counter-protest group who was arrested for failing to remove their face covering. The main road outside the hotel was blocked by hundreds of demonstrators shouting ‘save our kids’.

It came as police had to rapidly mobilise to contain a group of ‘anti-fascist’ activists arriving at South Quay station to confront anti-migrant protesters as they held signs that said ‘no human is illegal’ and chanted: ‘Refugees have the right – here to stay, here to fight.’

More than a hundred police officers moved to kettle the group outside the tube station for breaching the peace.

A protester who was asked to remove his face mask shouts at a police officer whilst taking part in the Stand Up to Racism rally outside the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf

Swarms of anti-migrant demonstrators have taken to asylum seeker hotels across the country as protestors clash with police ahead of more chaos this weekend. Pictured: Officers have made two arrests in Canary Wharf

Police officers detain a protester who did not comply with face covering restrictions during the Stand Up to Racism rally and counter-protest outside the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf

Protesters outside The Bell Hotel in Epping on Friday evening with Union Jack flags and St George’s Flags

Lines of police officers separate the counter-protesters from those taking part in the Stand Up to Racism rally outside the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf

Police officers intervene as pro-migrant and anti-migrant protesters face off near Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf on Friday

People then made their way into the town as the main road outside the hotel was closed.

Dozens were carrying flags, leading chants of ‘Keir Starmer is a w*****’ and ‘send them home’.

Around 100 people gathered at the Park Hotel in Chichester, which has been housing asylum seekers for almost two years, at around 6pm but the crowd had dwindled to around 20 people within an hour.

Ash Matthews, 33, who helped to organise the gathering through social media, said they are protesting against the rise of illegal immigration and the lack of government action. 

‘We’ve seen the rise of illegal immigration and we are frightened for our families.

‘We’re parents who are increasingly concerned for our own and our family’s safety.

‘I’ve seen them begging in the street, trying to get children’s attention. We feel it is our duty to our community.’

Protesters and counter protesters stand in front of each other as police standby

Police officers surround Antifa protesters marching in support of refugees as both pro-migrant and anti-migrant protesters gathered outside Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf

Police officers detain a protester who did not comply with face covering restrictions during the Stand Up to Racism rally and counter-protest outside the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf

Protestors gathered outside the Britannia Hotel in Bournemouth on Friday after it was announced it would be used to house asylum seekers

A counter-protester waves an Israeli flag during the Stand Up to Racism rally outside the B
Source: Dailymail.co.uk | Continue to Full Story…