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The Guardian
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Hundreds gather again at Essex asylum hotel in weekend of anti-immigrant protests
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside a hotel in Epping on Sunday for the fifth time to protest at the premises being used to house asylum seekers, as protests spread to other hotels over the weekend. A large police presence containing officers from multiple forces restricted contact between anti- and pro-immigrant protesters, with Essex police saying restrictions were necessary after what it described as repeated serious disruption, violence and harm to the community since the first demonstration took place on 13 July. Two men have been charged with public order offences after a protest of about 400 anti-immigration and 250 counter-protesters outside a hotel in Diss on Saturday, Norfolk constabulary said. There was a further protest outside a hotel in Canary Wharf, London, on Sunday, with the number of protesters appearing to be in the low hundreds. The demonstration in Epping, Essex on Sunday – which saw about 300-500 anti-immigrant protesters gather behind metal barriers outside the Bell hotel – was the latest in a series of protests sparked after an asylum seeker was charged with sexual assault for allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl. Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and is in custody. Protesters wore T-shirts and held up signs with the slogan 'Protect our kids', while others waved England flags. Other flags seen included one for Reform UK, and a white flag with a red cross on a purple square, as seen in America at anti-abortion demonstrations. Counter-protesters held banners including 'Don't let the far right divide us with their hatred and violence', and 'Care for refugees'. They chanted 'Refugees are welcome here' and 'Nazi scum off our streets'. Police said three people were arrested during the peaceful protest, two from the anti-hotel protest group and the other from the counter-protest group. 'I want to thank those who attended for the peaceful nature of both protests,' said Ch Supt Simon Anslow of Essex police. 'I am pleased that today has passed off without incident and I am grateful to our colleagues from other forces for their support.' In a letter sent to the Guardian, asylum-seekers said 'harmful stereotypes' about refugees did not reflect the truth. 'There are some refugees who do not behave respectfully or who do not follow the rules of the host society. But those individuals do not represent all of us,' they said. 'As with any group of people, there are both good and bad – and it is unfair to judge the majority by the actions of a few.' The letter mentioned fleeing persecution and violence. 'We refugees are not here to take advantage of the system. We are here to rebuild our lives, to work, and to contribute,' they wrote, adding: 'This letter is not a plea for sympathy, but a call for understanding and fairness.' Outside the Bell hotel, one local woman, who did not want to be named, said local people had complained about an increase in antisocial incidents since it began housing asylum seekers but felt ignored and unfairly labelled as 'far-right'. 'I'm not saying everyone in any of these hotels is up to no good. I'm not going to judge everyone, but there is no vetting,' she said. 'We won't stop until they start listening and shut this hotel down.' Activists from far-right groups including Homeland, Patriotic Alternative and the neo-Nazi White Vanguard movement have been present at previous protests. On Sunday Kai Stephens, the Norfolk branch organiser for Homeland, held a sign which said: 'Put local people first.' Stephens said: 'Unfortunately, there has to be a certain point where we turn around and say, the British people should be put first, the indigenous British people.' Supporters of the far-right activist Tommy Robinson were also present. Robinson, 42, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, had said he would attend before changing his mind and saying it would not be helpful to protesters. Wendell Daniel, a former Labour councillor who is now a film-maker for Robinson's Urban Scoop video platform, asked one man if he understood why Robinson had not attended. He responded: 'We're with Tommy all the way.' Other local protesters said that far-right agitators were not welcome. 'It's 100% unhelpful, because it just gives them a message which is not what we're trying to achieve here,' said one man, who did not want to be named. Stand Up to Racism, the group that organised the counter-protest, estimated about 700 people had gone to Epping. Lewis Nielsen, an officer at Stand Up to Racism, said Nigel Farage's Reform UK had emboldened the far right. 'It's a really dangerous situation at the moment because you haven't just got the protest here, you've got other protests coming up around the country,' Nielsen said. 'We stopped the riots last August with these kinds of mobilisations, and that's why we're pleased the one today has been successful.' Joshua Bailey, who said he grew up in Epping, said increasing anti-immigration sentiment had made his non-white friends feel vulnerable and threatened. 'It's very important that we have a positive stance towards refugees, who are people fleeing genuine tragedy and disaster,' he said. He added that he did not agree with chants that labelled protesters as fascists or Nazis. 'There is room for nuance,' he said. 'I'd like to be able to sit down in a pub with someone who had opposing views and be able to speak about it.'
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Man and woman killed after Mercedes crashes with lorry as busy road closed for several hours
TWO people have tragically been killed in a horror smash as cops launch an urgent appeal. Emergency services were called to the A17 at Clenchwarton, in Norfolk, at 9.51am. 2 Paramedics tragically pronounced the male driver and female passenger dead at the scene Police discovered a Mercedes-Benz GLC 220 Sport Premium had crashed with a white Volvo HGV. Paramedics tragically pronounced the male driver and female passenger dead at the scene. The road remains closed off at the Pullover Roundabout. Cops are now appealing to anyone who may have information that could help with their enquiries. Read More A spokesperson for Norfolk Constabulary said: "Police are appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision at Clenchwarton today (Thursday 24 July 2025). "The collision happened on the A17 at Clenchwarton at 9.51am this morning when a Mercedes-Benz GLC 220 Sport Premium collided with a white Volvo HGV. "The road was closed at the Pullover Roundabout whilst emergency services attended the scene, including ambulance and fire. "Sadly, the driver, a man and passenger, a woman, died at the scene. Most read in The Sun "The road remains closed. "Officers would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the collision or who has any relevant dashcam footage. "Anyone with any information is asked to get in touch via the following channels quoting reference NC-24072025-114." 2 Emergency services were called to the A17 at Clenchwarton, in Norfolk, at 9.51am
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Man and woman killed after Mercedes crashes with lorry as busy road closed for several hours
CRASH TRAGEDY Man and woman killed after Mercedes crashes with lorry as busy road closed for several hours Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TWO people have tragically been killed in a horror smash as cops launch an urgent appeal. Emergency services were called to the A17 at Clenchwarton, in Norfolk, at 9.51am. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Paramedics tragically pronounced the male driver and female passenger dead at the scene Police discovered a Mercedes-Benz GLC 220 Sport Premium had crashed with a white Volvo HGV. Paramedics tragically pronounced the male driver and female passenger dead at the scene. The road remains closed off at the Pullover Roundabout. Cops are now appealing to anyone who may have information that could help with their enquiries. A spokesperson for Norfolk Constabulary said: "Police are appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision at Clenchwarton today (Thursday 24 July 2025). "The collision happened on the A17 at Clenchwarton at 9.51am this morning when a Mercedes-Benz GLC 220 Sport Premium collided with a white Volvo HGV. "The road was closed at the Pullover Roundabout whilst emergency services attended the scene, including ambulance and fire. "Sadly, the driver, a man and passenger, a woman, died at the scene. "The road remains closed. "Officers would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the collision or who has any relevant dashcam footage. "Anyone with any information is asked to get in touch via the following channels quoting reference NC-24072025-114."
The Sun
6 days ago
- The Sun
Man and woman killed after Mercedes crashes with lorry as busy road closed for several hours
TWO people have tragically been killed in a horror smash as cops launch an urgent appeal. Emergency services were called to the A17 at Clenchwarton, in Norfolk, at 9.51am. 2 Police discovered a Mercedes-Benz GLC 220 Sport Premium had crashed with a white Volvo HGV. Paramedics tragically pronounced the male driver and female passenger dead at the scene. The road remains closed off at the Pullover Roundabout. Cops are now appealing to anyone who may have information that could help with their enquiries. A spokesperson for Norfolk Constabulary said: "Police are appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision at Clenchwarton today (Thursday 24 July 2025). "The collision happened on the A17 at Clenchwarton at 9.51am this morning when a Mercedes-Benz GLC 220 Sport Premium collided with a white Volvo HGV. "The road was closed at the Pullover Roundabout whilst emergency services attended the scene, including ambulance and fire. "Sadly, the driver, a man and passenger, a woman, died at the scene. "The road remains closed. "Officers would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the collision or who has any relevant dashcam footage. "Anyone with any information is asked to get in touch via the following channels quoting reference NC-24072025-114." 2
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Daily Mirror
'Help me find my missing son's body so I can bury him at home'
Distraught mum Galina is making a heartfelt plea for her son Maris Ile's location so he can be laid to rest on home soil in Latvia alongside his deceased father The mum of a missing man believed to have been murdered has begged for information on her son's whereabouts so he can be buried on home soil. The mother of Maris Ile, 54, has launched a public appeal for information to help find out what happened to her son after he was last seen in November 2024. Maris, a Latvian national, was living in King's Lynn, Norfolk and was in regular contact with his family in Latvia. In March, Norfolk Police launched a no-body murder investigation as enquiries led them to believe that Maris has come to harm. Mum Galina said: "I am begging, if you know something, if you've seen Maris please report it to police." "This is very important to me. If he is no longer alive, then I would like the police to find his body, so he can be cremated and brought back home to Latvia so he could rest on Latvian soil. "So that he could be buried with his father in the cemetery. I would be very grateful if you provide any information to police who are searching for him." Four men and a woman were arrested at addresses in King's Lynn, Norwich and Peterborough on suspicion of murder in connection with Maris' disappearance. All five remain on police bail until September 11, 2025. Forensic tents were observed at the North Lynn allotments during the suspects' arrests as part of the investigation, but they are not thought to have yielded any new leads. While partial human remains were discovered in Walton Highway in May, it has since been confirmed that these did not belong to Maris. Instead, the remains were identified as those of a man in his 30s. Anyone with information about Maris' disappearance who has not yet come forward is urged to contact the Major Investigation Team (MIT) by calling the police non-emergency number 101 and quoting crime reference 36/11508/25. Alternatively, people can submit tips via Norfolk Constabulary's online portal.
