6 arrested after MORE ‘mindless thuggery' outside Epping migrant hotel as cops make appeal to help find yobs

The Sun

7 days ago

COPS have arrested six more after "mindless thuggery" unfolded outside a migrant hotel in Epping.
Chaos erupted outside The Bell Hotel in Essex last week after an asylum seeker appeared in court charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
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The unrest saw yobs launching themselves on riot vans, smashing windshields and ripping off wingmirrors in senseless displays of "hooliganism".
One thug was even run over while attempting to stop a police van gaining access to the hotel.
Another man had his teeth knocked out after riot cops smashed a shield into his face in a brutal clash.
Since tensions reached boiling point, violent demonstrations have cost the force £100,000.
And Essex Police confirmed six more people have been detained this week.
Cops arrested two men, aged 36, and 47, on suspicion of violent disorder under Section 2 of the Public Order Act.
A 51-year-old has also now been charged with violent disorder.
A 34-year-old man remains in custody on suspicion of breaching Section 60AA of the Public Order Act.
Meanwhile, two teens aged 17 and 16, were also arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage to a vehicle and going equipped to cause criminal damage, respectively.
But police are still appealing for more information and released CCTV of three men they wish to speak to.
The force wish to located them in connection with violent disorder, assaulting an emergency worker, and assault.
Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said: "The cost of policing criminal incidents in Epping over the last week has reached £100,000 – money which we would much rather spend on continuing to cut crime across Essex and keeping our neighbourhoods safe.
"What we have seen in Epping over the last week is not protest, it's hooliganism and the people responsible for it can expect to be held accountable.
'To those who seek to use social media to peddle untruths and lies about the incidents in Epping on Thursday and Sunday, you won't win.
'The very people you are criticising are police officers who have families, who live in our communities and want to keep them safe.
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'These are the same people who have been antagonised with threatening and abusive language, they've had missiles thrown at them and they've been injured.
'Once again, to anyone who somehow thinks we will tolerate this behaviour – think again.
"We don't take sides; we arrest criminals and we have a duty to ensure no-one is hurt – it really is that simple.'
This comes after two people were arrested on Sunday night after thugs sparked brawls in the street.
The force confirmed eight officers were injured in the clash and two people have been arrested - one on suspicion of affray following reports of an assault, and the other for failing to comply with dispersal orders.
The man accused of affray, 65-year-old Dean Walters, has since been charged and the second suspect remains in custody.
On Wednesday night, video footage captured the dramatic moment a protestor was run over by a police riot van as chaos broke out.
Yobs allegedly tried to block the streets with green plastic blockades as officers navigated through angry crows.
Men could be seen kicking and punching several riot vans on the road.
But footage shows one man being driven into after failing to move.
The protest was sparked by a 38-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker who 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.
Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, who had been living at the Bell Hotel, in Epping, Essex, denies sexual assault.
He appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Thursday, July 10, where he denied all charges.
His arrest led to multiple protests in the region, culminating in the violent clashes.
There are about 210 hotels under contracts with the Home Office to house migrants.
A Sun investigation revealed 339 defendants who had been living at asylum hotels had appeared in magistrate's courts already this year.
Sir Keir Starmer released a statement in response to the growing tensions.
"Well, I think it's obviously important that communities know that we are working to reduce the number of asylum hotels," said the PM's spokesperson.
"That is a clear government policy. But it's also important that
legitimate protest doesn't cross over into something else, and we would always hope that communities would respect that.
"But we are, and I think the Prime Minister is on record as saying, about the need to cut migration, both lawfully and illegal migration, and that is something that you're seeing in working on tirelessly over the last year, whether it be the agreement with the French last week or the agreement with the German government yesterday, that is a priority for this government.
"It is something that requires international solutions, and that is why you're seeing this flurry of activity from this government to tackle these gangs from every possible angle.'
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