Latest news with #violentclashes
The Guardian
17 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Police warn of ‘inflammatory' online posts over clashes outside Essex asylum hotel
Police have warned they are seeing 'inflammatory' comments online, as a third man was arrested over violent clashes outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Essex. The latest arrest came after eight officers were assaulted on Thursday and police vehicles were smashed after groups of men broke away from an earlier peaceful protest outside the hotel in Epping. A 33-year-old man from Loughton was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of violent disorder and criminal damage, according to Essex police. The force said several suspects who caused trouble had been identified and investigators were seeking to arrest them. Far-right activists associated with groups including Britain First were among those in the crowd that gathered outside the Bell hotel on Thursday, where local people including women and children peacefully protested. Clashes with police broke out as groups of men, some masked, attempted to reach a small anti-racism demonstration that started at Epping station and then walked through the town before it was hemmed in. In an apparent response to allegations that the police had taken a 'two-tier' approach that favoured the counter-demonstration, Ch Supt Simon Anslow said: 'Unfortunately, across social media we are seeing inflammatory comments which suggest we were supporting and enabling certain protesters. 'This is categorically not true. We police without fear or favour, remaining impartial at all times and have legal responsibilities to ensure peaceful protest is facilitated.' Tensions were high in Epping after the appearance in court on Thursday of an asylum seeker charged with three counts of sexual assault. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, from Ethiopia, who denies the offences, was remanded in custody before a two-day trial next month at Chelmsford magistrates court. Police remain on alert in the area and calls for a new protest outside the hotel on Sunday evening have been circulating online. Dean Walters, 65, from Harlow, has been charged with affray and will appear at court in September following a separate protest last Sunday near the hotel. A second man arrested over a breach of a dispersal order has been released on conditional bail. Neil Hudson, the local Conservative MP, has been calling on the Home Office to close the hotel and described the violence in the town on Thursday as '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,' he said in a post on X.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
ICE raid sparks pandemonium as cops batter agitators blocking major bridge
Dozens were arrested, and one cop was placed on administrative duty after violent clashes broke out during an anti-ICE protest on an interstate bridge. Demonstrators protesting the immigration detention of former hospital chaplain Ayman Soliman blocked the Roebling Bridge that carries traffic between Ohio and Kentucky on Thursday. Approximately 100 people crossed the bridge from the Ohio side, but fights broke out after protesters were met by nearly 50 officers from Covington, Kentucky, reported Shocking footage showed one officer punching a protester several times as police wrestled him to the ground. Covington Police Chief Brian Valenti claimed the protester, Brandon Hill, had tried to disarm an officer carrying a pepper ball gun. However, Hill, who was left covered in scratches and bruises and with his arm in a sling, insisted he was just trying not to get shot. 'It's all very traumatic, and I'm still trying to recover from this, honestly,' Hill told WCPO. 'If anything like that happened, it's because a random gun was pointed in my face.' Covington police placed the officer who arrested Hill on administrative duty with pay while the investigation is ongoing. Body camera footage from the unidentified officer showed him chasing Hill as he was running along the sidewalk before the cop grabbed him near the ledge of the bridge. Hill can be heard on other officers' body cams yelling 'ow' and 'stop' as he got hit in the head. In the officer's use-of-force report, he wrote: '[Hill] continued to physically resist, actively concealing his hands... fearing that [he] might be attempting to access a weapon, and that the surrounding crowd opposed a threat to my safety, I delivered additional closed fist strikes.' Another video from the protest showed people wearing neon-colored vests pushing against a black SUV on the bridge. Police arrested 15 people during the protest, including two journalists, after police said they had refused to comply with orders to disperse. Covington police said in a statement that officers who initially attempted to talk with the protest's organizer were threatened and met with hostility. 'While the department supports the public's right to peaceful assembly and expression, threatening officers and blocking critical infrastructure, such as a major bridge, presents a danger to all involved,' the police said. Among the charges filed against those arrested were rioting, failing to disperse, obstructing emergency responders, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. Reporter Madeline Fening and photo intern Lucas Griffith were charged with felony rioting and several other charges, said Ashley Moor, the editor in chief of CityBeat. A judge on Friday set a $2,500 bond for each of those arrested. The arrests happened during a protest in support of Ayman Soliman, 51, an Egyptian immigrant who worked as a chaplain at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. He was detained last week after he showed up for a routine check-in with ICE officials at their office near Cincinnati. According to his lawyers, he was granted asylum in 2018 based on past persecution for his work as a journalist in Egypt during the Arab Spring uprising. His lawyers say he was jailed and tortured for reporting on the intense political conflict.
The Guardian
a day ago
- The Guardian
Third person arrested after violent clashes outside Essex hotel for asylum seekers
A third person has been arrested after violent clashes outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Essex, police said. Eight police officers were injured in what started as a peaceful protest outside the Bell hotel in Epping on Thursday evening. A 33-year-old man from Loughton was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of violent disorder and criminal damage, Essex police said. He is in custody waiting to be questioned. Two people were arrested on Friday in relation to the protests. Riot police wore helmets while crowds of men, some masked, surrounded a small counter-demonstration by anti-racism activists. Counter-demonstrators and police were pelted with plastic bottles, eggs and flour but the violence worsened as those in the crowd directly attacked officers and vandalised police vans. Dean Walters, 65, of Corner Meadow in Harlow, has been charged with affray and will appear at court in September after a separate protest on Sunday 13 July. A second man arrested for a breach of a dispersal order has been released on conditional bail. Thursday's demonstration was the latest in a series of protests outside the hotel since an asylum seeker was charged with three counts of sexual assault. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, from Ethiopia, who denied the offences when he appeared at Chelmsford magistrates court on Thursday, was remanded in custody before a two-day trial next month. Ch Supt Simon Anslow said: 'The events in Epping on Thursday were shocking and have no place in our neighbourhoods. We understand the concerns of the local community and support everyone's right to peaceful protest. 'Unfortunately, across social media we are seeing inflammatory comments which suggest we were supporting and enabling certain protesters. This is categorically not true. We police without fear or favour, remaining impartial at all times and have legal responsibilities to ensure peaceful protest is facilitated. 'Officers will act robustly and swiftly towards anyone intent on disrupting the local community's right to have their voices heard.' Essex police's assistant chief constable Stuart Hooper had urged people not to attend any future protests outside the hotel that have been discussed on social media.
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Third arrest after clashes outside Essex hotel ‘housing asylum seekers'
A third person has been arrested following violent clashes outside a hotel in Essex believed to be housing asylum seekers. Eight police officers were injured following what started as a peaceful protest outside the Bell Hotel in Epping on Thursday evening. A 33-year-old man, from Loughton, was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of violent disorder and criminal damage, Essex Police said. He is in custody waiting to be questioned. Dean Walters, 65, of Corner Meadow in Harlow, has been charged with affray and will appear at court in September following a separate protest on Sunday. A second man arrested for a breach of a dispersal order has been released on conditional bail. Thursday's demonstration was the latest in a series of protests outside the hotel since 38-year-old asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was charged with sexual assault following an incident where he is alleged to have attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl. He denied the charge when he appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Thursday. Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said: 'The events in Epping on Thursday were shocking and have no place in our neighbourhoods. 'We understand the concerns of the local community and support everyone's right to peaceful protest. 'Unfortunately, across social media we are seeing inflammatory comments which suggest we were supporting and enabling certain protesters. 'This is categorically not true. We police without fear or favour, remaining impartial at all times and have legal responsibilities to ensure peaceful protest is facilitated. 'Officers will act robustly and swiftly towards anyone intent on disrupting the local community's right to have their voices heard.' On Friday afternoon, a security guard remained on site at the Bell Hotel, opening the gate in the fencing and the door of the hotel to let people in and out. Fencing has since been put up to surround the hotel, accompanied by no entry signs. There are also warnings forbidding photography and filming in the vicinity of the hotel.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Third arrest after clashes outside Essex hotel ‘housing asylum seekers'
A third person has been arrested following violent clashes outside a hotel in Essex believed to be housing asylum seekers. Eight police officers were injured following what started as a peaceful protest outside the Bell Hotel in Epping on Thursday evening. A 33-year-old man, from Loughton, was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of violent disorder and criminal damage, Essex Police said. He is in custody waiting to be questioned. Dean Walters, 65, of Corner Meadow in Harlow, has been charged with affray and will appear at court in September following a separate protest on Sunday. A second man arrested for a breach of a dispersal order has been released on conditional bail. Thursday's demonstration was the latest in a series of protests outside the hotel since 38-year-old asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was charged with sexual assault following an incident where he is alleged to have attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl. He denied the charge when he appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Thursday. Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said: 'The events in Epping on Thursday were shocking and have no place in our neighbourhoods. 'We understand the concerns of the local community and support everyone's right to peaceful protest. 'Unfortunately, across social media we are seeing inflammatory comments which suggest we were supporting and enabling certain protesters. 'This is categorically not true. We police without fear or favour, remaining impartial at all times and have legal responsibilities to ensure peaceful protest is facilitated. 'Officers will act robustly and swiftly towards anyone intent on disrupting the local community's right to have their voices heard.'
