Arrests made as protests take place outside asylum hotels across UK
More than 100 people were protesting with Stand Up to Racism in Canary Wharf as part of the 'Defend Refugees, Stop the Far Right' demonstrations happening across the UK on Friday.
About 100 counter-protesters waving Union flags and St George's Cross flags also gathered on the pavement opposite the hotel.
'One person protesting against the use of the hotel by asylum seekers has been arrested after a bottle was thrown at officers,' the Metropolitan Police said.
'A member of the counter-protest group has been arrested for failing to remove a face covering.'
Following the two arrests, police imposed conditions under the Public Order Act, with counter-protesters instructed to remain on the pavement opposite the Britannia Hotel.
Police officers form a barrier in front of counter-protesters separating them from the Stand Up to Racism rally in Canary Wharf, London (Jordan Pettitt/PA)
Police said the measures were to 'prevent serious disorder at the protests in Canary Wharf'.
Sabby Dhalu, the co-founder of Stand Up to Racism, who attended the demonstration, said: 'This weekend sees the greatest number of protests targeting refugees that are in hotels accommodating asylum seekers since last year's racist riots.
'We're here to stand up to that because it's clear that people on the far right want to see a repeat of the violence and the horrific scenes that we saw last year – with racist attacks up and down the country, violent attacks on police, violent attacks on mosques…
'We're here to stand up to that racism and violence.'
She added: 'We've got to find better solutions as a society to the various problems that the country is facing: the fact that people are getting worse off is not the fault of refugees.'
Safia Jama, chief executive of the Women's Inclusive Team charity which provides support to women in Tower Hamlets, was also present.
Gesturing at the counter protesters across the road, she said: 'As a woman, I feel less safe today than I've ever felt in Tower Hamlets.'
'Generally, I'm very safe in Tower Hamlets: there is no issue or concerns.
A protester who was asked to remove his face mask remonstrates with a police officer at Canary Wharf (Jordan Pettitt/PA)
'But I'm very worried about going home later, because they will target (us), and when you look at people across the road, it's mainly men.'
She added: 'Tower Hamlets is my home: I went to primary school, primary school here, and I'm still living here.
'I'm not going to have a bunch of people come to my borough and paint my borough as a picture that it isn't, and say that it isn't safe for women.
'I'm safe every day, and you're not going to tell me otherwise.'
Protesters taking part in the anti far right rally hold up placards (Jordan Pettitt/PA)
On the counter protesters' side, a pensioner who went by the name of Susie, from Canary Wharf, said the idea of asylum seekers being housed in a local hotel made her feel unsafe.
'When I take the dog for a walk, I always carry a personal alarm because otherwise I'm terrified of being mugged.
'It's become unsafe because we know from a number of instances throughout the country with migrant hotels that these men, fighting-age men, have got sexual needs and there have been – like in Epping – attacks on girls.'
Multiple demonstrations have been held outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Epping since July 13, after an asylum seeker was charged with allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl.
Susie added: 'It's very important to protest against this migrant hotel: first of all, this is Canary Wharf, which is the engine of a country.
'The sheer stupidity of a Government that puts a migrant hotel here just beggars belief.
'These are unvetted, they are criminals by default because they entered the country illegally.'
Referring to the counter protesters, she added: 'None of these people here is a racist – they want to look after their own.
'The point is we want to look after children, and girls in particular.'
Protests organised by Stand Up to Racism took place outside hotels housing refugees across the country, including in: Islington, London; Portsmouth, Southampton and Aldershot in Hampshire; Hoylake in Merseyside; Barry in Wales; Leicester in the East Midlands; Altrincham in Cheshire; Bournemouth in Dorset; and Birmingham in the West Midlands.
In Altrincham, a GB News journalist complained to police after she was struck by a placard while attempting to interview anti-racism protesters.
Sophie Reaper, the channel's North West reporter, said in a post on X: 'We went to the Stand Up To Racism counter-protest to offer them the chance to tell their side on GB News – instead I was hit in the head by a metal pole.'
A spokesman for GB News confirmed Ms Reaper was fine following the incident and that she had reported the matter to police.
In Epping, Essex, police also put restrictions in place under the Public Order Act, instructing protesters to remain behind the area marked off by metal fencing outside the Bell Hotel.
A group of women waving Union flags and St George's Cross flags appeared to defy that order by breaking through metal fences and sitting down on the road outside the hotel, according to footage posted on social media.
Essex Police said the protest passed off 'peacefully', though one man was arrested after an officer was struck by an object, while another was arrested on suspicion of breaching court bail conditions.
A 'peaceful protest' also took place outside the Brook Hotel in Norwich, Norfolk, according to the local police force.
'I would like to thank all those who attended and made it a peaceful and safe protest,' Norfolk Police Superintendent Wes Hornigold said.
'We put measures in place today to enable people to exercise their right to protest, whilst maintaining safety and minimising disruption.
'A number of officers were deployed to allow this to happen.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
16 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Police arrest 466 people over Palestine Action support at protest
Hundreds attended Saturday's demonstration in Parliament Square, organised by Defend Our Juries, with the Metropolitan Police warning it would arrest anyone expressing support for Palestine Action. In an update posted on X on Saturday evening, Scotland Yard said 466 people had been arrested for supporting the group as of 9pm. A further eight arrests were made for other offences, including five for assaults on officers. None were seriously injured, the force added. The Met earlier said the detained protesters were taken to prisoner processing points in the Westminster area, and those whose details could be confirmed were bailed, with conditions not to attend any further protest in support of Palestine Action. Those whose details were refused, or could not be verified, were taken to custody suites across London. Charity Amnesty International described the mass arrests under UK terrorism law as 'deeply concerning'. The crowd, sat on the grass inside Parliament Square, could be seen writing 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action' on white placards at 1pm, with the vast majority remaining silent. Several demonstrators carrying placards that read 'Palestine Action terrorises Britain while Hamas hides in hospitals, schools and mosques', briefly walked along the crowd before being led away by police officers. Other clusters of protesters who were not holding placards gathered around the Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela statues in the square singing pro-Palestinian chants. Arrest update: Parliament Square and Whitehall are clear. As of 9pm, 466 people had been arrested for showing support for Palestine Action. There were a further eight arrests for other offences including five assaults on officers. This will be the final update of the day. — Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) August 9, 2025 Officers were holding individual demonstrators sat on the edge of the grass before escorting them through swelling crowds to police vans parked on the edge of the square. A separate group of officers attended a protester lying next to the fenced-off Emmeline Pankhurst statue. They later began arresting protesters sat in the middle of Parliament Square. The officers lifted the protesters – some sitting and some lying flat – off the ground before escorting them away. Onlookers applauded the protesters and shouted 'Shame on you' at the police making arrests. Protesters who were still sat in the middle of Parliament Square stood up together at 2pm and held their placards in the air. One person was also arrested at a separate Palestine Coalition march, which set off from Russell Square heading to Whitehall via Aldwych and the Strand. The arrest was 'for a placard showing support for Palestine Action', Scotland Yard said. Membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison under the Terrorism Act 2000. Earlier this week, the first three people to be charged with supporting Palestine Action in England and Wales were named. Jeremy Shippam, 71, Judit Murray, 71, and Fiona Maclean, 53, have all been charged with displaying an article in a public place, arousing reasonable suspicion that they are a supporter of a proscribed organisation after their attendance at a previous demonstration last month. Hundreds have been arrested in the wave of Defend Our Juries protests across the UK since the ban was implemented by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last month. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper thanked police in London and across the country for their work to ensure peaceful protests, and officers' 'continued dedication in responding to support for a proscribed organisation'. She said: 'The right to protest is one we protect fiercely but this is very different from displaying support for this one specific and narrow, proscribed organisation. Palestine Action was proscribed based on strong security advice following serious attacks the group has committed, involving violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage. 'It also follows an assessment from the joint terrorism assessment centre that the group prepares for terrorism, as well as concerning information referencing plans and ideas for further attacks, the details of which cannot yet be publicly reported due to ongoing legal proceedings. 'Many people may not yet know the reality of this organisation, but the assessments are very clear, this is not a non-violent organisation. UK national security and public safety must always be our top priority. 'Their actions are not about the horrific suffering in the Middle East and do not reflect or represent the thousands of people across the country who are exercising their rights to protest peacefully.' Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of Amnesty International UK, said: 'The protesters in Parliament Square were not inciting violence and it is entirely disproportionate to the point of absurdity to be treating them as terrorists. 'We have long criticised UK terrorism law for being excessively broad and vaguely worded and a threat to freedom of expression. These arrests demonstrate that our concerns were justified.'
Western Telegraph
16 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
Police arrest 466 people over Palestine Action support at protest
Hundreds attended Saturday's demonstration in Parliament Square, organised by Defend Our Juries, with the Metropolitan Police warning it would arrest anyone expressing support for Palestine Action. In an update posted on X on Saturday evening, Scotland Yard said 466 people had been arrested for supporting the group as of 9pm. A further eight arrests were made for other offences, including five for assaults on officers. None were seriously injured, the force added. The Met earlier said the detained protesters were taken to prisoner processing points in the Westminster area, and those whose details could be confirmed were bailed, with conditions not to attend any further protest in support of Palestine Action. Hundreds gathered in Parliament Square (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Those whose details were refused, or could not be verified, were taken to custody suites across London. Charity Amnesty International described the mass arrests under UK terrorism law as 'deeply concerning'. The crowd, sat on the grass inside Parliament Square, could be seen writing 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action' on white placards at 1pm, with the vast majority remaining silent. Several demonstrators carrying placards that read 'Palestine Action terrorises Britain while Hamas hides in hospitals, schools and mosques', briefly walked along the crowd before being led away by police officers. Other clusters of protesters who were not holding placards gathered around the Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela statues in the square singing pro-Palestinian chants. Arrest update: Parliament Square and Whitehall are clear. As of 9pm, 466 people had been arrested for showing support for Palestine Action. There were a further eight arrests for other offences including five assaults on officers. This will be the final update of the day. — Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) August 9, 2025 Officers were holding individual demonstrators sat on the edge of the grass before escorting them through swelling crowds to police vans parked on the edge of the square. A separate group of officers attended a protester lying next to the fenced-off Emmeline Pankhurst statue. They later began arresting protesters sat in the middle of Parliament Square. The officers lifted the protesters – some sitting and some lying flat – off the ground before escorting them away. A woman is detained by police in Parliament Square (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Onlookers applauded the protesters and shouted 'Shame on you' at the police making arrests. Protesters who were still sat in the middle of Parliament Square stood up together at 2pm and held their placards in the air. One person was also arrested at a separate Palestine Coalition march, which set off from Russell Square heading to Whitehall via Aldwych and the Strand. The arrest was 'for a placard showing support for Palestine Action', Scotland Yard said. Protesters held signs in support of Palestine Action (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison under the Terrorism Act 2000. Earlier this week, the first three people to be charged with supporting Palestine Action in England and Wales were named. Jeremy Shippam, 71, Judit Murray, 71, and Fiona Maclean, 53, have all been charged with displaying an article in a public place, arousing reasonable suspicion that they are a supporter of a proscribed organisation after their attendance at a previous demonstration last month. Hundreds have been arrested in the wave of Defend Our Juries protests across the UK since the ban was implemented by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last month. People were seen lying on the ground during the protest (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Home Secretary Yvette Cooper thanked police in London and across the country for their work to ensure peaceful protests, and officers' 'continued dedication in responding to support for a proscribed organisation'. She said: 'The right to protest is one we protect fiercely but this is very different from displaying support for this one specific and narrow, proscribed organisation. Palestine Action was proscribed based on strong security advice following serious attacks the group has committed, involving violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage. 'It also follows an assessment from the joint terrorism assessment centre that the group prepares for terrorism, as well as concerning information referencing plans and ideas for further attacks, the details of which cannot yet be publicly reported due to ongoing legal proceedings. 'Many people may not yet know the reality of this organisation, but the assessments are very clear, this is not a non-violent organisation. UK national security and public safety must always be our top priority. 'Their actions are not about the horrific suffering in the Middle East and do not reflect or represent the thousands of people across the country who are exercising their rights to protest peacefully.' Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of Amnesty International UK, said: 'The protesters in Parliament Square were not inciting violence and it is entirely disproportionate to the point of absurdity to be treating them as terrorists. 'We have long criticised UK terrorism law for being excessively broad and vaguely worded and a threat to freedom of expression. These arrests demonstrate that our concerns were justified.'
Glasgow Times
16 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Police arrest 466 people over Palestine Action support at protest
Hundreds attended Saturday's demonstration in Parliament Square, organised by Defend Our Juries, with the Metropolitan Police warning it would arrest anyone expressing support for Palestine Action. In an update posted on X on Saturday evening, Scotland Yard said 466 people had been arrested for supporting the group as of 9pm. A further eight arrests were made for other offences, including five for assaults on officers. None were seriously injured, the force added. The Met earlier said the detained protesters were taken to prisoner processing points in the Westminster area, and those whose details could be confirmed were bailed, with conditions not to attend any further protest in support of Palestine Action. Hundreds gathered in Parliament Square (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Those whose details were refused, or could not be verified, were taken to custody suites across London. Charity Amnesty International described the mass arrests under UK terrorism law as 'deeply concerning'. The crowd, sat on the grass inside Parliament Square, could be seen writing 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action' on white placards at 1pm, with the vast majority remaining silent. Several demonstrators carrying placards that read 'Palestine Action terrorises Britain while Hamas hides in hospitals, schools and mosques', briefly walked along the crowd before being led away by police officers. Other clusters of protesters who were not holding placards gathered around the Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela statues in the square singing pro-Palestinian chants. Arrest update: Parliament Square and Whitehall are clear. As of 9pm, 466 people had been arrested for showing support for Palestine Action. There were a further eight arrests for other offences including five assaults on officers. This will be the final update of the day. — Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) August 9, 2025 Officers were holding individual demonstrators sat on the edge of the grass before escorting them through swelling crowds to police vans parked on the edge of the square. A separate group of officers attended a protester lying next to the fenced-off Emmeline Pankhurst statue. They later began arresting protesters sat in the middle of Parliament Square. The officers lifted the protesters – some sitting and some lying flat – off the ground before escorting them away. A woman is detained by police in Parliament Square (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Onlookers applauded the protesters and shouted 'Shame on you' at the police making arrests. Protesters who were still sat in the middle of Parliament Square stood up together at 2pm and held their placards in the air. One person was also arrested at a separate Palestine Coalition march, which set off from Russell Square heading to Whitehall via Aldwych and the Strand. The arrest was 'for a placard showing support for Palestine Action', Scotland Yard said. Protesters held signs in support of Palestine Action (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison under the Terrorism Act 2000. Earlier this week, the first three people to be charged with supporting Palestine Action in England and Wales were named. Jeremy Shippam, 71, Judit Murray, 71, and Fiona Maclean, 53, have all been charged with displaying an article in a public place, arousing reasonable suspicion that they are a supporter of a proscribed organisation after their attendance at a previous demonstration last month. Hundreds have been arrested in the wave of Defend Our Juries protests across the UK since the ban was implemented by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last month. People were seen lying on the ground during the protest (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Home Secretary Yvette Cooper thanked police in London and across the country for their work to ensure peaceful protests, and officers' 'continued dedication in responding to support for a proscribed organisation'. She said: 'The right to protest is one we protect fiercely but this is very different from displaying support for this one specific and narrow, proscribed organisation. Palestine Action was proscribed based on strong security advice following serious attacks the group has committed, involving violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage. 'It also follows an assessment from the joint terrorism assessment centre that the group prepares for terrorism, as well as concerning information referencing plans and ideas for further attacks, the details of which cannot yet be publicly reported due to ongoing legal proceedings. 'Many people may not yet know the reality of this organisation, but the assessments are very clear, this is not a non-violent organisation. UK national security and public safety must always be our top priority. 'Their actions are not about the horrific suffering in the Middle East and do not reflect or represent the thousands of people across the country who are exercising their rights to protest peacefully.' Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of Amnesty International UK, said: 'The protesters in Parliament Square were not inciting violence and it is entirely disproportionate to the point of absurdity to be treating them as terrorists. 'We have long criticised UK terrorism law for being excessively broad and vaguely worded and a threat to freedom of expression. These arrests demonstrate that our concerns were justified.'
