No 10 condemns attacks on police at Essex asylum hotel
Six people were arrested after the latest clashes outside the hotel on Sunday, during which riot police were once again belted with projectiles before the area was cleared using a dispersal order.
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, said Britain was getting close to 'civil disobedience on a vast scale' and sought to lay much of the blame for the violence in the town of Epping on anti-racism protesters.
There are fears that the situation in Epping will be further inflamed next weekend if the far-right activist known as Tommy Robinson makes good on a promise to show up with thousands of supporters.
Local people, including women and children, were among hundreds who gathered for what was at first a largely peaceful protest, but violence once again erupted as groups of men clashed with the police.
Tensions remained high after the appearance in court on Thursday of an asylum seeker charged with three counts of sexual assault. The man, who denies the offences, was remanded in custody before a two-day trial next month.
After the latest violence, Essex police said that four people who arrived at the scene on Sunday were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder in connection with offences alleged to have happened during last Thursday's protest.
The force also said there were angry and violent scenes when a woman walked through the crowds. It said in a statement: 'Missiles were thrown at her and a number of individuals were shouting abuse and trying to reach the woman.'
'Our officers walked alongside her until she left the scene in order to keep everyone on all sides safe and ensure no-one was hurt.'
Video footage of the incident showed the middle-aged woman saying she had tried to speak to councillors at the protest and that she also supported closing the hotel.
Epping has emerged as a potential major flashpoint as the first anniversary of last year's riots nears.
The prime minister's official spokesperson said on Monday: 'Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy, but it's clearly unacceptable to see police coming under attack as they ensure that peaceful protest is able to take place.
'Essex police put out the statement making very clear: people who protest peacefully, lawfully and responsibly cause us and the wider public no concern. However, we can never and will never tolerate criminal violence, and I think the prime minister will obviously echo that.'
Asked about Epping at a Reform UK press conference, Farage said: 'I don't think anybody in London even understands just how close we are to civil disobedience on a vast scale in this country and I regret saying that.
'Of course there were some bad eggs that turned up in Epping. There were the usual far-right thugs but equally what about Antifa?' he added, in apparent reference to those in a small group of Stand Up to Racism demonstrators who staged a protest in Epping in Thursday and who quickly became the target of anger by some in the other protest.
'It isn't all far-right thuggery, as you might sometimes hear from our prime minister, but do I understand how people in Epping feel? You bet your life I do.'
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