Protesters gather outside Canary Wharf asylum hotel in fresh anti-migrant demonstrations after resident 'entered blind woman's flat'
The Britannia International Hotel in London is being used to accommodate hundreds of asylum seekers.
It has been the subject of several chaotic protests in recent weeks, after Tower Hamlets Council confirmed it was handed over to the Home Office to house migrants.
Today, police officers were deployed around the area as the protest kicked off outside.
The group of men and women were ordered to remain on the pavement opposite the hotel.
Photos from the event show demonstrators carrying England flags, signs reading 'stop the boats' and coloured smoke flares.
Several men - one of them masked and topless - were seen being detained by police following a string of arrests made in recent weeks.
This month, a young woman tried to storm the migrant hotel with a meat cleaver after she found an asylum seeker in her mother's flat 'moving his hands over his groin', a court heard.
She found the man 'moving his hand' over his genital area, Ms Augustus's lawyer Emma Clements told Thames Magistrates' Court.
After chasing him away, she is alleged to have gone to the hotel at around 6pm where she confronted a security guard who was trying her calm her down.
She returned with a meat cleaver and started banging it on a metal barrier outside the hotel and shouted 'f****** asylum seekers', the court heard.
Channay Augustus, 22, is accused of being part of a group of around 20 people who tried to barge into the Britannia Hotel.
The trouble allegedly started when she discovered a migrant as she cleaned her blind mother's ground-floor flat, a five-minute walk away from the hotel.
Augustus, of Tower Hamlets, was remanded into custody to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on September 12.
Today, hundreds also gathered in the Northumberland town of Ashington to protest against 'illegal immigrants' in the area.
The demonstration was shared by the Facebook page 'British Unity', with organisers claiming the aim was to have their concerns about safety in the town recognised by the Government.
Protesters who met at 12pm called for the removal of 'illegal-immigrants' in the area, and demanded a stop to 'housing them for our children's future'.
A police presence was in attendance at the protest as demonstrators also called for 'mass deportations' and to 'stop the boats'.
MP for Blyth and Ashington Ian Lavery spoke ahead of the demonstration: 'Anyone attending protests this weekend should behave responsibly and remember: actions have consequences. You might think you'll know everyone in attendance, but sadly these kinds of events are often infiltrated by people from outside the area with their own agendas.'
He added: 'In recent months, hysteria has been whipped up by national and local figures. Sadly, few are telling the truth. Too many across all parties have echoed divisive rhetoric rather than standing up for truth and fairness. If you do attend a meeting or protest, you should know the facts.'
The MP continued: 'The anger out there is real - and justified. People in our communities live shorter, less healthy lives. Children are growing up in poverty. Schools are underfunded and crumbling. The NHS is under strain. People have less money in their pockets than at any time in a generation.
'But let's be clear: the people responsible for this decline are not those fleeing war or persecution. They are not the vulnerable seeking sanctuary.'
Organisers asked for those in attendance to wear 'no face coverings' and display 'no violence.'
Crowds have since dispersed from the area.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Police make six arrests at asylum hotel protest
Protesters gathered outside the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf on Sunday afternoon, with some setting off pink flares and waving England flags. Some demonstrators carried a banner that said: 'We're not far right but we're not far wrong. Don't gamble with our lives. Stop the boats.' The Metropolitan Police said six arrests were made for breaching Section 14 Public Order conditions, possession of Class B drugs, and assaulting an emergency worker. In a post on X, the Metropolitan Police said: 'We have imposed conditions using Section 14 of the Public Order Act to prevent serious disruption at the protests in Canary Wharf. 'The group protesting against the use of the hotel by asylum seekers have been instructed to remain on the pavement opposite the Britannia Hotel.' The hotel has been the site of numerous anti-migrant protests in recent weeks.
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Mother of murdered Olivia Pratt-Korbel joins call for communities to speak out
Olivia was shot by gunman Thomas Cashman as he chased another drug dealer into her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, on August 22 2022. Her death was the third fatal shooting within a week in Merseyside, where 28-year-old Ashley Dale had been shot in her home in Old Swan, Liverpool, in the early hours of the previous day and Sam Rimmer, 22, had been killed in Dingle on August 16. Speaking ahead of the third anniversary of her death, Olivia's mother Cheryl Korbel said: 'My little girl was only nine years old when she was shot in her own home. She had her whole life ahead of her and the pain of her loss is indescribable. 'It has been three years since I last heard her laugh, put her to bed or held her hand but the pain of her loss still feels like it happened yesterday. 'I will never see her grow up, get married, have children of her own or fulfil her dreams and that is devastating.' In the wake of the three murders, Merseyside Police received Home Office funding for a Clear, Hold, Build operation, known locally as Evolve, designed to clear communities of crime and rebuild them. Ms Korbel said: 'Evolve was created to help prevent further tragedies and other families from having to endure the pain we feel every single day. 'While it's making a difference we need your help. To keep our communities safest, if you know anything about criminality, please speak out.' Last week, Ms Korbel was at Olivia's Tree – planted in her memory in Dovecot – to meet partners from the Evolve programme as well as Tim Edwards, whose daughter Elle Edwards, 26, died in a shooting outside a pub on the Wirral on Christmas Eve 2022. Mr Edwards said the families had got to know each other since the tragedies. He said: 'It's the club that you don't want to be in and we're all in that club, so we're always looking out for each other.' He said the Evolve programme, which was set up in Wirral after Elle's death, gave him hope. He added: 'Elle should still be here, living her life and making plans for her future. We can't change what happened to her but we can help stop it from happening to someone else. 'If you know something, please come forward. Your courage could save a life and spare another family the pain we live with every day.' Ms Dale's mother Julie said the last three years had been a 'living nightmare'. Four men – James Witham, Niall Barry, Sean Zeisz and Joseph Peers – were convicted of the environmental health worker's murder. She said: 'We count ourselves one of the 'lucky' ones as we have been able to get justice for Ashley. 'Without the support of the community, who knows what position we would be in now? 'Sadly, there are families who are still waiting for their justice knowing that their loved one's killers are still out there walking our streets. 'No parent should have to go through this. Losing a child in such an horrific way and knowing that someone knows who has committed these crimes is just unbearable. 'So I appeal to anyone who may have information that could help give the families the justice they deserve and help ease the lifelong pain they are facing to come forward to police or Crimestoppers.' No one has been charged in connection with the death of Mr Rimmer, who was with friends when shots were fired at them by people on electric bikes. His mother, Jo Rimmer, appealed for anyone who knew who his killers were to come forward. She said: 'If you know something and you are reading this, please, please speak up. 'No one will ever know as it will be completely anonymous. 'Sam was shot in his back. He was turned away from his killers. This image haunts me. In his final moments, was he scared? Was he in pain? 'I died the day Sam did. I function but I do not live. I know the pain of losing Sam will never go but if I see justice for his murder, maybe the family and I can begin to move forward and remember the happy memories of Sam.'
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Communities ‘have more confidence in police' three years on from fatal shootings
Merseyside Police was one of the first forces in the country to receive Home Office funding for a Clear, Hold, Build initiative – known locally as Evolve – following the deaths of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, nine, 28-year-old environmental health worker Ashley Dale and Sam Rimmer, 22, in August 2022. Three years on from its launch, the force says the scheme – now rolled out across four areas – has led to a 300% increase in community intelligence. It has also led to more than 5,300 arrests and the seizure of about 630kg of Class A and B drugs, more than 260 offensive weapons, 28 firearms and about £2.5 million in cash and assets – which is being reinvested into communities. Detective Chief Superintendent Graeme Robson said the three murders 'rocked' the area, but police had seen a 'strong and positive response'. He said: 'We get a really good response from communities who want to work with us. 'They don't want these kind of tragedies to occur in their communities. 'One of the other things we've seen as Evolve is our intelligence reporting from communities is far higher across our four Evolve areas than it was previously which I think is a sign that those communities have confidence in reporting information because they want us to do something about it.' Merseyside police and crime commissioner Emily Spurrell said: 'I think one of the biggest successes of the Evolve project has been the 300% increase in intelligence from our communities. 'That is obviously really significant because it means the communities do have more confidence in the police now.' As part of the scheme, community events have been held, including weekly sessions provided by Everton in the Community and the LFC Foundation. Funding has been provided for a memorial for Olivia. The Evolve project was launched in Wirral following the death of Elle Edwards, 26, who was killed in a shooting outside a pub on Christmas Eve 2022. There are also projects running in Netherton and the Everton and Vauxhall area. Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: 'It has been three years since the launch of the first two Evolve projects in Liverpool and Knowsley, and Wirral following the tragic deaths of Sam, Ashley, Olivia and Elle that sent shockwaves of grief through our communities. 'The heart of Evolve is partnership and its success is a testament to the dedication of our officers, staff, partners and residents who have come together and worked tirelessly to make Evolve areas safer and more resilient. 'The hard work, commitment and collaborative spirit are making a real difference – building trust, reducing harm and creating neighbourhoods where everyone can feel safe and supported. 'Evolve has made significant progress in disrupting and dismantling criminal networks, safeguarding vulnerable people, and restoring a sense of pride and security to neighbourhoods. 'I want to thank everyone involved for the achievements we have made together so far.'
