Police issue major update on UK town riots after migrant charged with child sex offence.uk
A senior police officer said there will be a “very visible policing presence” in the town over the coming days to “ensure the safety of our community”.
Protests were held outside a migrant hotel in Epping on Sunday (Image: X)
Police presence is being increased in a quiet Essex town where angry protests broke out outside a migrant hotel after an asylum seeker staying there was charged with a number of offences. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, of High Road, Epping, was 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.
Mr Kebatu, who is originally from Ethiopia, was remanded in custody after a hearing at Colchester Magistrates’ Court last Thursday and denies all offences. On Sunday, demonstrations were held outside The Bell Hotel in Epping during which protestors clashed. Essex Police said that, while no offences were reported between the two groups of people at the protest site, two male security staff members were seriously assaulted by a group of men at a bus stop on the High Road.
Protests were held outside The Bell Hotel in Essex (Image: Google Street View)
The force said the victims then managed to make their way past the protest site into the hotel, where there was a significant police presence, to get help.
The men suffered serious injuries and required hospital treatment.
Their injuries are not life-threatening or life-changing, police said, adding the incident is being investigated as racially aggravated at this stage.
At the protest, there was a group objecting against the continued use of the hotel as an asylum centre, saying that they were local people taking a stand.
Left-wing activists across from them accused them of being “far-right”. It is not known whether far-right activists were in attendance.
Police said on Tuesday a man shouted racial abuse directed at the hotel and caused damage to the property.
A man was later arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence and criminal damage. He has been released on bail whilst enquiries continue.
Superintendent Tim Tubbs said there will be a “very visible policing presence” in Epping over the coming days to “ensure the safety of our community”.
He said: “I am acutely aware of the strength of feeling locally, specifically on an ongoing police investigation which at this stage has seen one man charged with a number of sexual offences.
“That case is continuing to progress through court and the suspect was remanded into custody after a hearing last week.
“We know there is significant discussion about this ongoing case within the community and indeed further afield. As the police, must be limited in what we say whilst a criminal investigation is progressing through the courts and the last thing we want is for any public discussion to hinder an ongoing prosecution.”
Superintendent Tubbs added: “We understand people’s right to make their voices heard on issues which matter to them. We don’t seek to stifle this.
“People who do this peacefully, lawfully and responsibly cause us – and the wider public – no concern.
“However, we can never and will never tolerate criminal violence of any sort and anyone identified as committing crime will be dealt with robustly.”
Another protest outside The Bell Hotel is expected to take place on Thursday.
