Angry mob launch 'racist attack' on staff starting shift at migrant hotel
Authorities are investigating a 'racially motivated' attack against security staff at a migrant hotel after video of the bloodied workers went viral.
A group of locals showed up outside the Bell Hotel in Epping to protest the housing of migrants there, after a resident of the hotel was charged with multiple crimes a week after arriving in the UK.
Ethiopian man Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, has been charged with three counts of sexual assault, one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, and one count of harassment without violence.
Kebatu lives at the hotel and has since been remanded in custody after his hearing last week, but denies any wrongdoing.
The crimes have enraged the local community, who met outside the hotel on Sunday, with counter-protesters from Waltham Forest Stand Up To Racism on the opposite side.
But a video of the demonstrators attacking a man who was walking to work in the hotel has gone viral, prompting police to launch an investigation.
A spokesperson from Essex Police told Metro no arrests have been made, but added: 'We are investigating the assault of two members of security staff working at The Bell Hotel, in Epping, and are treating the offences as racially aggravated.
'The assaults took place at a nearby bus stop in High Road, at around 8 pm on Sunday, July 13.'
The two security guards had arrived to begin their shift and were set upon by a group of men.
'The two victims then managed to make their way past the protest into the hotel, where there was a significant policing presence, for safeguarding and to seek aid,' they added.
'Both victims have received hospital treatment for serious injuries, which are thankfully not life-threatening or life-changing. We will not tolerate violent incidents of this nature.
'An extensive investigation is underway to identify those responsible, led by our detectives. Our investigation suggests the offences were racially aggravated. We are acutely aware and understand that emotions within the community are running high.
'However, crime of any sort committed by anyone will not be tolerated. We continue to have a significant policing presence in the area to keep people safe.'
Local community leaders are still raising concerns about the hotel. Chris Whitbread, the leader of Epping Forest District Council, said they warned the Home Office that the site was 'entirely inappropriate'.
'Placing vulnerable individuals from a wide range of cultural backgrounds into an unsupervised setting, in the centre of a small town, without the proper infrastructure, support or services, is both reckless and unacceptable,' he said.
'It puts pressure on local services, causes understandable concern for residents, and is unfair on those placed in the hotel. The Home Office must now face the reality of the situation.'
Adam Brooks, who was at the protest, told Metro he didn't witness any violence, but did witness locals 'voicing their concerns and anger'.
'I had women tell me that they'd been flashed while walking their dogs, and many also say that they'd been harassed by men from the hotel,' he claimed.
'I had nothing to do with organising this or even knowing who did, I was there to report the protest, and if I'm honest, I was there as a worried local father.
'Violence is wrong under any circumstances. This isn't about skin colour, race or religion, it is about public safety, especially that of our children locally.'
Adam said 12-15 counter protesters allegedly called the group 'far-right Nazi scum', which he says didn't help the already high tensions. More Trending
The Bell Hotel declined to comment on the matter to Metro.
Last year, similar scenes unfolded outside of a migrant hotel in Rotherham when far-right rioters attempted to break into the building in the aftermath of the Southport killings.
In videos shared online, the mob was seen throwing bricks and chairs at officers with riot shields, before smashing windows and entering the building while chanting 'Yorkshire, Yorkshire'.
Members of the mob, who waved Union flags and the St George's Cross, taunted police in the car park of the hotel.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE How an asylum seeker hotel at the centre of violent protests 'over migrant sex attacks' has long plagued its market town - and tensions have been boiling for years
Five years ago, a shabby run down hotel on the edge of the Essex market town of Epping became the subject of unwarranted attention. The 79-room Bell Hotel became home to around 100 new residents - all men said to be from Africa, Asia and the Middle East. It happened as thousands of asylum seekers continued to arrive illegally in the UK as the Covid pandemic erupted and Britain went into lockdown. The sudden arrival of the new residents triggered years of simmering tensions in the community which in recent days, following a series of alarming events, has led to scenes of ugly violence. On Sunday night, rival groups of anti-migrant demonstrators and counter-protesters faced off outside the hotel. Two people, who worked as security guards at the hotel, were left bloodied and injured in what police have described as a racially motivated attack. The violence erupted after a resident of the hotel was accused of three sex attacks in two days - including one on a schoolgirl - just eight days after arriving by small boat in the UK. Victims - said to be two teenage girls and a woman - were approached 'on a busy high street'. Ethiopian-born Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was remanded in custody by magistrates last Thursday after he was charged with three counts of sexual assault, one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and one count of harassment without violence. Kebatu, who denies wrongdoing, is said to have arrived in Britain on June 29. The alleged offences follow in the wake of two serious arson attacks - one which led to another local hotel housing asylum seekers being severely damaged after it was engulfed in flames. Eight days later, The Bell Hotel was targeted when a blaze broke out in a ground-floor bedroom. The incidents were no acts of misplaced vigilante retribution. Both fires were alleged to have been started by the same man - a resident who was moved from one hotel to the other. On May 7, Abdul Rahman, 36, was remanded in custody at Chelmsford Crown Court after being accused of two offences of arson with intent to endanger life. Now MailOnline can reveal that an extraordinary intervention by Keir Starmer's government lies at the heart of events that led to a growing wave of anger in the community. Two local MPs have requested an urgent meeting with the Home Secretary and called for the hotel to be shut down immediately amid claims that locals were kept in the dark before the migrants were parachuted into 'unsuitable' accommodation. The town's troubles began after migrants were placed in the hotel on what was supposed to be a temporary basis in 2020. At the time, the Home Office booked 4,000 hotel rooms in different parts of the country to house asylum seekers to deal with a surge in illegal cross-Channel arrivals as the Covid pandemic took hold. The Home Office and its asylum accommodation providers began using hotels, generally those with three stars, because of action to halt removals of asylum applicants from existing properties during the crisis. To make matters worse, the issue was quickly exploited by right-wing activists. A local councillor who represents the For Britain movement was accused of inciting racial hatred after he posted an incendiary video on YouTube in 2020. The video, called The Epping Migrant Hotel Scandal, highlighted how the Bell Hotel was being used by asylum seekers and illegal immigrants who had come to the UK to exploit the benefits system. The councillor claimed that provisions from a food bank were being diverted away from local people and that the new residents of the hotel had caused an increase in shoplifting and pickpocketing as well as posing a security risk. In response, Epping Forest District Council published a 'myth-busting' leaflet to counter 'unfounded rumours' that had circulated on social media leaving many residents 'unnecessarily alarmed'. The council insisted the Home Office use of The Bell had 'no negative impact on local residents'. Holly Whitbread, the council's housing portfolio holder, said: 'It is not costing Epping Forest district council anything. 'It is not affecting our council house allocations or being funded through our local housing budget, and it is not impacting local crime levels, with no increase in crime or crime linked to the hotel. 'They are not a threat to local people and I would appeal to everyone to leave them in peace while the government deals with their claims.' Local politicians were, however, raising objections to the move and frustrations grew as it became clear that no paying guests would return to the hotel for the foreseeable future. Council leaders insisted The Bell and the nearby Epping Phoenix Hotel - were unsuitable locations for housing refugees and asylum seekers who 'require complex and comprehensive support measures'. Opinions were divided over the arrival of the new residents. Local church groups rallied together to provide support for the hotel's residents over concerns for their welfare. A number of locals have reported that crimes had increased in the town after the migrants moved in with incidents of theft, anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and women being harassed in the streets. However, councillors have insisted crime has not increased since the hotel began housing asylum seekers. Tensions remained until it was revealed in January last year that The Bell would no longer provide accommodation to asylum seekers after its contract was terminated by the Home Office. The Government of the time announced the arrangement would cease by the end of April 2024 and that residents would be moved to 'other parts of the asylum estate'. Yet, within a year, the decision was reversed by the new Labour government as record levels of migrants continued to flood into the country. Local politicians, who had fought for the hotel to be closed down, insisted their hands were tied over the matter. When immigrants began moving in last March, one official said: 'We have been informed but were not consulted. 'However, we have expressed our concerns for the health and well-being of people placed in unsuitable accommodation which lacks the necessary social, medical and transport infrastructure. 'We have not been given timescales but appeal to the Home Office to act quickly in finding more suitable accommodation as soon as possible.' Within days, residents of the Phoenix Hotel were evacuated and had to be taken to alternative accommodation following the first arson attack. Despite suffering significant damage, the hotel is back up and running and is still being used to house migrants. In the wake of Sunday's disorder, local political leaders have held meetings with Home Office officials and have launched a petition for the 'immediate and permanent closure' of the hotels which had become the focus of 'serious safety concerns'. Councillor Chris Whitbread, the Conservative Leader of the local council, said he took pride in the 'tolerance, good sense and decent nature' of the local community. He said the hotels had 'run their course' and 'must close' and called on local residents to 'stand together peacefully'. He said: 'Let me be absolutely clear. Epping Forest District Council has consistently and repeatedly opposed the use of the Bell Hotel to accommodate asylum seekers. 'From the outset, we warned the Home Office that this site is entirely inappropriate. 'Placing vulnerable individuals from a wide range of cultural backgrounds into an unsupervised setting, in the centre of a small town, without the proper infrastructure, support or services, is both reckless and unacceptable. 'It puts pressure on local services, causes understandable concern for residents, and is unfair on those placed in the hotel. 'The Home Office must now face the reality of the situation. The Bell Hotel must be closed without delay. Our warnings have been ignored for too long.' Following the sex attacks, violence erupted after anti-migrant protesters gathered outside The Bell before the arrival of a rival 'Refugees Welcome' demonstration. Police were forced to intervene as large crowds jeered, with some shouting obscenities while one person was heard screaming 'Go home you c***, go home. F*** off back on your boat and go'. Shocking footage emerged showing one man bleeding heavily from his head as he limped to the hotel. In another clip, two men are seen punching one another and wrestling next to a car before police charged in to break up the brawl. A third video shows a large crowd of people - some of whom were waving the flag of St George - massing opposite the property and repeatedly chanting 'protect our kids', as about a dozen police stood guard. No arrests were made at the time. Among those who witnessed the drama was father-of-three Adam Brooks, an anti-knife campaigner whose father was brutally stabbed to death when he was a child. The Essex-based publican said: 'There's a protest because a migrant was charged with sexual assault against a young girl in Epping High Road last week. 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'We'll be working with all our partner agencies in the coming days to hear their thoughts and establish how we can provide the most effective police response for events like this in the future. 'As with all our policing of public events such as protests, we will review any body-worn video to ensure any offences are detected.' A Essex Police spokesperson added: 'We will not tolerate violent incidents of this nature. 'An extensive investigation is underway to identify those responsible, led by our detectives. 'Our investigation suggests the offences were racially aggravated. 'Anyone with information which could assist our enquiries is asked to get in touch. 'We are acutely aware and understand that emotions within the community are running high. 'However crime of any sort committed by anyone will not be tolerated. We continue to have a significant policing presence in the area to keep people safe.'
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2 hours ago
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Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Windrush commissioner: Apprehension and suspicion remains towards Home Office
Reverend Clive Foster, the first Windrush commissioner, has pledged to push for speedier payouts from a much-criticised compensation scheme for those affected by the scandal. Last month just ahead of announcing his appointment, immigration minister Seema Malhotra confirmed around 64 claimants had died after applying for payouts, as she set out the Government's wish to speed up 'justice'. On Wednesday, she will attend an event with Mr Foster where people affected by the scandal, which erupted in 2018 when British citizens were wrongly detained, deported or threatened with deportation despite having the right to live in Britain, will hear from the commissioner on his aims for his role. A total of 10,326 claims had been made under the scheme as of May this year, according to the latest Home Office data. The figures also showed that just over £112 million has been paid out so far, covering 3,334 claims. In an interview with the PA news agency ahead of the event, Mr Foster said he will be advocating for a 'fair, accessible and trauma-informed' compensation scheme. While some campaigners have called for the scheme to be moved out of the Home Office altogether, due to applicants' lack of trust in the department, Mr Foster appeared to disagree with such a change. He told PA: 'I think what I will be pushing for is to make sure that this compensation scheme must be seen to be fair, accessible and trauma-informed, and I will be pushing to get swifter outcomes. 'I know there's been a call for movement into another area (out of the Home Office), but I think we should be careful what we wish for. 'I think it's important that we make the scheme workable.' Asked if he felt moving it to another department might risk further delays to payouts, he said: 'I think that is a possibility.' Reverend Clive Foster, the new Windrush commissioner (Nottingham Trent University/PA) He said the Home Office would not want a situation where it has 'further 'reasons why it cannot be giving out fast decisions and compensation to people who have been terribly affected as a result of the scandal, and so this movement, I think, would inevitably cause some of that slowing down, and I think that is something that we have to be aware of'. He said he had already pressed on the minister the need for guarantees around pension losses being covered by the scheme. Ms Malhotra has previously said officials in her department are 'reviewing the current exclusion within the rules of compensation for private and occupational pensions'. Mr Foster said he will work with 'like-minded campaigners' to address problems with the scheme and 'to inform the Home Office where they're getting it right and where they're getting it wrong, without fear or favour'. Asked to describe the level of trust in the Home Office currently among those affected by the scandal, he said: 'I'm afraid I still feel that there is apprehension and some suspicion with regards to, 'is this working towards better outcomes?' 'What we need to accelerate is the actions and activities that are going to build trust. I always say 'you can't cross a bridge until you've built it.'' He said the department must show through actions rather than only words 'that there is going to be a culture change'. Mr Foster, a senior pastor at the Pilgrim Church in Nottingham and the son of parents who migrated to the UK from Jamaica in 1959, said he will 'be reaching out to communities and acting as that advocate and trusted voice, as it were, going forward'. Notting Hill Carnival takes place in August each year in west London (Jeff Moore/PA) Among his top priorities will be ensuring people are comfortable to come forward and get the correct documentation to ensure they have settled status and are not 'wrongly classified as illegal'. He said: 'People still need to feel that they can be respected and accepted to come forward without that fear of being penalised as a result of not having (the right documentation).' Meanwhile, Mr Foster said he will also be working to ensure the legacy of the Windrush generation is celebrated in the future, including through the annual Notting Hill Carnival. Campaigners last month called on the Government to step in to protect the future of the west London carnival, which they said was in jeopardy, as they asked for urgent funding to save the world-famous event. Mr Foster said carnival 'brings so much to the country, and I think that is an expression of the Windrush generation legacy'. He added: 'One of the things in my role would be to be looking to ensure that we continue to celebrate the legacy and the contribution of the Windrush generation, and carnival is one of those aspects, and I'll be happy to engage in conversations to look at that going forward.'
