Moment TikTok star clashes with protesters outside Epping asylum seeker hotel as demonstrations continue after Ethiopian man charged over 'sexual assaults'
Yesterday, angry locals gathered outside The Bell Hotel in Epping for the second time to protest against its use as accommodation for asylum seekers after a man staying there was charged over three 'sexual assaults'.
Ethiopian asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Thursday, July 10, where he denied a number of offences.
Thursday's demonstration started peacefully, but ended with three arrests after clashes with counter protesters and an incident which saw a police van drive into a man.
Six arrests were made during the protest on Sunday evening which attracted more counter demonstrations and has spilled over in to today as people continue to stand outside this morning.
Amongst those in attendance last night was TikTok star and boxer Ed Matthews.
The 24-year-old from Brentwood in Essex, who has over 248,000 Instagram followers, livestreamed his visit to the protest.
He could be seen posing for selfies with fans before approaching police officers standing outside the hotel with a can of Stella in hand.
He ignored the officers warning and proceeded to tell those around him to 'move out the way' before piercing a hole in the can and drinking from it in a bizarre performance
'If I shotgun this, is that illegal?', he asked one officer who replied: 'Why would you do that mate? Drink your Stella somewhere else.'
However, Matthews ignored the cop and proceeded to tell those around him to 'move out the way' before piercing a hole in the can and drinking from it in a bizarre performance recorded by men with cameras.
The influencer seemed to be under the impression he was popular with all of the protesters as he walked around confidently with his own film crew in tow.
But things got awkward when he was confronted by others who were less than impressed with his presence.
Calling him over for a chat, one man shouted: 'You come down here for your ten followers? Don't come over here filming.'
A few of the other demonstrators attempted to hide their faces with their hoods and t-shirts as Matthews and his cameraman approached.
Matthews defended himself, insisting 'everyone's filming', and when asked why he had joined them said: 'I'm here for the right reasons.'
The man then told him off for his stunt with his can of beer in front of officers, telling him he's making the whole protest look like a 'joke' and told him to 'do things properly'.
The man then told him off for his stunt with his can of beer in front of officers, telling him he's making the whole protest look like a 'joke' and told him to 'do things properly'
'What are you here promoting? Stella? I'm here to protect the kids,' the man added as they began to square up to each other.
Matthews attempted to walk away when another man said: 'Take your camera and f*** off.'
The pair then got into a heated discussion as the TikToker asked: 'Why are you being rude mate? We are here for the right reason, ain't we?'
'No you ain't, you're here because you want f***ing content,' the man replied.
Waving his beer in the air, Matthew said: 'What? Because I had a Stella?'
But the man had clearly had enough and knocked the can out of his hand as he said: 'I don't give a s**t about the Stella. Get out of here now, I'm telling you to f**k off.'
Matthews then sulked off towards a group of younger boys who looked overjoyed to see him.
The men can be heard still shouting about how he should join them in protesting peacefully, to which he shouted back: 'We should all be working together. This is what they want mate, for us all to be arguing.
'We are all here for the right reasons. No need to get rude.'
He then joined a group of people who were standing on the back of a pick-up truck to watch some commotion between officers and protesters.
'Do you think I want the streets unsafe?' he said into the camera, adding: 'It's just people kicking off for the livestream. There's no need for it.'
One young fan asked him if he was okay after getting his Stella knocked out of his hand, to which he replied: 'I'm good. It's cool, I'm driving anyway.'
Essex Police said six arrests were made on Sunday night for 'violent disorder' after the peaceful protests turned into 'mindless thuggery'.
Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said: 'Disappointingly we have seen yet another protest, which had begun peacefully, escalate into mindless thuggery with individuals again hurting one of our officers and damaging a police vehicle.'
The force announced before the protest that it would order demonstrators to remove face coverings when requested under section 60AA of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
They said anyone who refused to remove a face mask when asked to do so was likely to be arrested and could be imprisoned if convicted.
Officers said: 'The right to peaceful protest is protected by law and allows everyone freedom of expression, but this must be done respectfully and if there is a risk to public order, we will act appropriately.'
Demonstrators gathering on Sunday displayed signs which opposed the hotel holding migrants as protestors let off red, white and blue smoke flares.
Bottles and flares were thrown towards police vehicles stationed outside the hotel by some protesters who led chants such as 'send them home' and 'save our kids'.
Police also surrounded a counter-protester, an elderly woman, who was escorted by police out of the area as a group of masked protesters followed her and shouted abuse.
More images from last night's gathering showed cars beeping their horns as they drove by, waving Union Jack flags out of the window as onlookers cheered.
People wrapped in St George's flag faced down riot police who lined up in a queue on Hemnall Street
Further signs displayed by two women read: 'I'm not far right, I'm worried about my kids' and 'Make Epping Safe Again', while another read: 'We go home when they go back'.
A line of police vans and officers blocked off the entrance to the hotel with protesters facing them on the other side of the pavement.
UKIP politician Nick Tenconi led chants outside the hotel as he called on protestors to gather outside 'every week'.
Yesterday's gathering came after tempers flared on Thursday, when a group of hardcore agitators appeared to stop three Essex Police riot vans from driving past the hotel to support their colleagues in the centre of the town, before protestors took to the road to block and attack police vans.
Dramatic footage from that night showed a demonstrator being driven into by one of the police vehicles, which appeared to spark chaos outside the hotel.
Keith Silk, 33, from, Loughton, was arrested on Saturday and has been charged with violent disorder and criminal damage following clashes outside the hotel. He was remanded into custody and will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court today.
Dean Walters, 65, of Harlow, has also been charged and released on bail to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on September 24, with stringent conditions until then.
Another man arrested on Thursday for failing to comply with a dispersal order has been released on conditional bail.
A man was seen being put into the back of a police van at the Epping protests on Sunday night
Essex Police said: 'Our investigations into the incidents which followed a peaceful protest in Epping on Thursday evening are continuing at pace and we thank the public for sharing vital information.'
Local MP Neil Hudson condemned Thursday's 'violent scenes' in a post on X, after eight police officers were injured.
He said: 'This is completely unacceptable. Police put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe. People have the right to peacefully protest but these violent scenes are not us, not Epping, not what we stand for.
'I urge folk to listen to the advice of the police while we work to sort this.'
In the footage captured on Thursday, an Essex Police van was seen knocking over a young man, who stood in Epping High Road, in what appears to be an attempt to stop the vehicle leaving.
In a comment addressing the video, a spokesperson for the Met said: 'Met officers attended Epping, Essex, on the evening of Thursday, 17 July, following a request by Essex Police to support with an ongoing protest and counter-protest.
'On arrival, officers were met with significant hostility from protesters, with police vehicles damaged and officers threatened with violence.
'During their attendance, officers attempted to leave the immediate area due to safety concerns and were subsequently blocked in by the group of protesters using barriers.
A man with a St George's flag mask rode past the protesters who lined the pavements holding flags and signs
UKIP politician Nick Tenconi led chants outside the hotel as he called on protesters to gather outside 'every week'
'We go home when they go back' reads this sign held outside the hotel yesterday evening
Crowds were seen facing police who lined up outside the hotel as smoke bombs were launched
During Thursday's protest, a police van leading the convoy was seen hurtling through a plastic barrier
'During this, a police van made contact with one of the protesters.'
Protesters had erected a make-shift barrier made up of pallets and plastic fencing in the road to stop police leaving the scene on Thursday.
The first of four Essex Police vans crashed through the barrier, leading to a protester to stand in the road, who was then knocked out of the way by the second van as people screamed: 'Oh my god' and 'what the f***'.
The youth who was mowed down by the police van is then seen getting up and brushing himself down as he shouts at the convoy.
Another man, who was standing by the side of the road, also fell to the ground during the chaotic clip - which has been seen millions of times online. It is unclear whether either man needed medical attention.
Essex Police officers, dressed in full riot gear, were seen sat in the vehicles - as thugs are seen attacking the vans, kicking and launching missiles at them.
Footage also showed riot police smash a shield into a protester's face and knock his teeth out in a heated clash.
The clip shows the man in a grey vest square up to an officer before he is hit with full force.
Riot police smashed a shield into a protester's face and knocked his teeth out in a heated clash outside the hotel
Footage of the encounter shows the man in a grey vest square up to an officer before he is hit with full force
In the aftermath of Thursday's protest incident the injured man spoke to camera where he relayed his account of events and explained the teeth were now in his 'pocket'
A car, understood to be a police vehicle, was seen with a heavily damaged windscreen last night
Protesters gathered outside the migrant hotel where a demonstration on Thursday descended into violent chaos
Dozens of officers were seen standing close to the protesters with riot helmets in their hands yesterday
The injured man then looks down at his hand in disbelief as he clasps his teeth and shows them eagerly to fellow protesters including a lady with the Flag of St. George draped over her shoulders.
In the aftermath of Thursday's protest incident the injured man spoke to camera where he relayed his account of events and explained the teeth were now in his 'pocket'.
He claimed: 'I was trying to talk to him (the riot officer) and he smashed me in the face with his shield.'
The protester can then be seen reaching into his pocket before he presents what resembles a yellow luminescent highlighter, a bottle top, and two teeth.
Other footage shows the man furiously shouting at the riot police after his teeth have been knocked out as the man filming comments 'he's fuming mate'.
There had been among up to 100 officers who battled with anti-migrant protesters who had confronted a counter anti-racism demonstration.
Speaking after Thursday's incidents, ACC Hooper said: 'If you were one of those individuals that was responsible for the damage - particularly to my officers or vehicle - you can expect a knock on your door.'
He added: 'Eight of my officers... were assaulted last night and that is absolutely, totally unaccepted. They have come here to do a role, to support their communities – they're a part of that community. And that's what we won't tolerate.'
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