Protestors have been heard chanting “save our kids” at a demonstration outside of an asylum seeker hotel in Essex. The Bell Hotel in Epping has been the site of two protests already this week, with the third today seeing a police officer hit in the head with a projectile. Anti-immigration demonstrators, who have been letting off flares, were met with counter-protestors, though the event has remained peaceful. Four police cars and four police vans were stationed around the hotel, Essex Live reports.
This comes after asylum seeker and Bell Hotel resident Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu 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. The 38-year-old has denied all the alleged crimes during his appearance at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. He was denied bail and has been remanded in custody.
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