Shock moment cops DRIVE INTO protester while under siege from yobs as chaos erupts over small boat migrant ‘sex assault'
Thugs sparked violent scenes outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, after an asylum seeker appeared in court charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
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Yobs tried to block the streets with green plastic blockades, as officers navigated through angry crows.
Men can be seen kicking and punching several riot vans on the road.
But footage shows one man being driven into after failing to move.
The demonstrator is pushed forwards and starts running to keep himself from falling underneath the van.
Someone in the horrified crowd shouted: "Oh my god...what the f***."
Several more large vehicles follow in procession, with mobs attacking them.
The man who was knocked down by the police van could later be seen getting back up and yelling.
This follows video clips which showed the moment another thug launched himself onto a moving police van amid the protests.
Concerning footage shows one yob, wearing an England flag under a red hat, headbutting a police van window shortly before 8pm.
The tracksuit clad thug also tries to punch the glass, as another joins in and starts kicking the side panels.
One man could be overheard shouting "smash it, smash it" as officers sat trapped inside.
Protesters clash with cops outside migrant hotel after asylum seeker appears in court over 'sexually assaulting' girl
Essex Police pull away from mob, who try and jump on the back and pull open the doors.
Another van from the force arrives and the yob donning an England flag launches himself on the bonnet.
He climbs up over the windshield before running and jumping across the roof.
In footage taken at the scene later on Thursday evening, the man was spotted jumping on another police vehicle as crowds cheered below.
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A broken wing mirror could also be seen on the floor next to the riot van before it was picked up and launched by one of the demonstrators.
The demonstration reportedly started peacefully, before the trio of agitators stopped riot vans from driving past the hotel to support their colleagues.
Chaos continued into the night outside the Bell Hotel, which has been operating as an asylum hotel for the past five years.
Children in balaclavas were seen alongside men and women as they blocked the road to the hotel.
Violent protesters also threw fireworks and bottles at police, who were protecting anti-racism counter-protesters.
The unrest began after asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was arrested and later 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.
He appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Thursday, July 10, and denied all the alleged offences before being charged yesterday.
His arrest, however, led to multiple protests in the region, culminating in this Thursday's violence.
Officers on patrol yesterday evening also arrested a man on suspicion of affray, following an assault reported close the hotel.
Dean Walters, 65, of Corner Meadow in Harlow, has been charged with affray, confirmed the force.
He has since been released on bail.
Mr Walters will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on September 24, with strict conditions in until then.
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It comes after two security guards were seriously assaulted by a group of men at a bus stop in the town on Sunday.
One man was arrested on suspicion of affray, following reports of an assault during the weekend protest, police said.
"We have closed a section of High Road, Epping, for the safety of the public and those protesting," Essex Police said.
"We will not tolerate any criminality on our streets, whether linked to protesting or not," the force added.
"One man has already been arrested at today's protest on suspicion of affray following reports of an assault near The Bell Hotel in Epping on Sunday July 13.
"He will be taken into custody while our inquiries continue."
Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said: "Disruption and offending is never an appropriate response, no matter the strength of feeling in this case, and on this issue.
"People protesting peacefully, lawfully and responsibly cause us - and the wider public - no concern.
"However, we can never, and will never, tolerate criminal behaviour of any sort and anyone identified as committing crime will be dealt with robustly."
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