Bottles and flares thrown during another protest outside Essex hotel

A protest outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, resulted in one arrest after over 100 demonstrators gathered. Protesters chanted and held signs with messages including "deport foreign criminals" and "save our kids." Bottles and smoke flares were thrown at police during the event.

Essex Police stated they would enforce rules requiring demonstrators to remove face coverings if necessary. The situation follows previous protests related to a alleged sexual assault on a child charged against an Ethiopian asylum seeker at the hotel. Hadush Kebatu has been charged with three counts of sexual assault, one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and one count of harassment, he denies the charges and has been remanded in custody. The incident took place in July shortly after Kebatu had arrived into the UK.

The protests highlight tensions surrounding asylum seekers in the area.