Police Guard London, Essex Hotels Amid Asylum Seeker Protests and Violent Disorder

Large protests have erupted outside the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf, east London, amid reports that the government plans to use the hotel to temporarily house asylum seekers. Metropolitan Police have maintained a significant presence to manage tensions between protesters and counter-demonstrators, with reports of eggs being thrown and a police helicopter monitoring the scene. The unrest in London follows a series of violent protests at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, triggered by the charge against an asylum seeker, Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, for sexual assault. Several men have been charged with violent disorder related to those protests, and police have faced criticism for escorting pro-migrant activists to the hotel, which some residents say escalated the violence. Essex Police defended their actions by emphasizing their duty to facilitate lawful protest and protect people’s rights, while Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner acknowledged that mass migration is testing community cohesion. Local authorities and police are working with the Home Office to ensure safety and safeguarding arrangements are in place for asylum seekers amid ongoing community tensions.