Anti-Asylum Protests Turn Violent Across UK, Multiple Arrests Reported

Across the UK, protests against the housing of asylum seekers at hotels have escalated into clashes between anti-immigration demonstrators and counter-protesters supporting refugees. In Epping, Essex, protests centered on The Bell Hotel, where an asylum seeker charged with sexual assault has heightened tensions; three arrests were made, including one for inciting racial hatred after an emblem was reportedly set alight during the protest. The Court of Appeal overturned a temporary injunction blocking asylum seeker housing at the Bell Hotel, fueling renewed demonstrations demanding deportations and the removal of asylum seekers. Meanwhile, in Southampton, Conservative councillors joined protests against the use of a local hotel for asylum accommodation, facing opposition from groups advocating for refugee support. Violent confrontations also occurred in Canary Wharf, London, where masked anti-asylum protesters clashed with counter-demonstrators, resulting in a police officer being punched and multiple arrests; police imposed dispersal orders and face-covering restrictions to restore order. These events highlight the intensifying national debate over immigration policy amid increased Channel crossings and public frustration.