Police are hunting three men in connection with violent disorder outside a migrant hotel that injured eight officers in Epping.
Officers released images of the suspects as more than 100 protesters gathered outside the Bell Hotel in Essex believed to be housing asylum seekers on Sunday night.
There is a line of police vans and officers blocking off the entrance to the hotel, with protesters facing them on the other side of the pavement.
Some are holding signs which say ‘deport foreign criminals’, ‘we go home when they go back’ and ‘defend our girls’.
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A small number of protesters are wearing balaclavas and face coverings against police orders.
An Essex Police spokesman, imposing a Section 60 order lasting until Monday morning, said: ‘Anyone who refuses to remove a face covering when required to do so is likely to be arrested and if convicted could face imprisonment.’
The investigation to identify those who caused disorder in the town on Thursday continued.
(Credits: UKNIP)
Essex Police said that a group intent on causing trouble and violence, arrived on the high street.
One man was seen jumping on a riot van and kicking in the windscreen.
The group damaged a number of police vehicles, threw projectiles and injured eight police officers, according to the force.
One Metropolitan police van sped through an improvised blockade on Epping High Street ‘making contact’ with a protester who appeared to fail to move out of the way.
Staff at the hotel told Metro on Thursday that the car park was a no-go zone after the riot as they feared the protesters would return in force.
One, who looked visibly shaken, said: ‘Everyone is ok but no one is allowed in the car park. The police say so.’
A nearby resident, 48, who did not want to be named, said: ‘I was sickened by what I saw. This is not acceptable. We have families and having these thugs shouting and chucking stuff is disgusting.’
Another said: ‘It’s not ideal living right near a migrant hotel but what is worse is these rioters causing mayhem. There is rubbish everywhere from stuff they have chucked and they sort of lay siege to the hotel which must be terrifying for those inside.’
Detectives are now seeking to trace the three men in connection with violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker.
Chief Supt Simon Anslow said: ‘We continue to have a dedicated team of detectives working around the clock to find all of those who came to Epping last week intent on causing violence and disorder.
‘There is no place for that on the streets of our county and there is a difference between peaceful, legitimate protest and those who are only interested in mindless thuggery.
‘I continue to urge residents to support us by sending us your footage or imagery of those who came to Epping to do nothing but cause trouble.
‘And a big thank you to those who have helped us by sending footage and images into us, we are grateful.’
