Asylum seekers housed inside the Thistle City Barbican Hotel in central London were photographed laughing and filming from windows as rival protests erupted on the streets below on Saturday afternoon. Young men believed to be migrants waved and blew kisses at demonstrators gathered outside the Islington hotel, which has become the latest flashpoint in escalating tensions over government-funded asylum accommodation.
The Metropolitan Police deployed significant resources to manage competing demonstrations, with protesters separated by metal barriers and lines of officers. The protest against the hotel’s use was organised by local residents under the banner “Thistle Barbican needs to go – locals say no,” whilst a counter-demonstration led by Stand Up to Racism and backed by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn drew masked activists chanting “we are anti-fascist.
One protester was heard shouting towards the hotel: “Get these scum off our streets,” as tensions mounted between the opposing groups. Police arrested at least one man wearing an England football shirt following an angry confrontation with officers during brief clashes that erupted when a large group of counter-protesters emerged from a side street.
Criminal Charges Fuel Local Anger
The protests come amid revelations that more than 90 criminal charges have been brought against 41 migrants living in the taxpayer-funded Thistle City Barbican over the past three years. Court records show residents of the hotel have been accused of offences including sexual assault, arson, theft, burglary, carrying knives, assault and drug offences.
Among those convicted was Alem Amiri, who pleaded guilty to arson in April last year and was jailed for a year. The revelations have intensified local opposition to the hotel’s use, with protesters declaring “enough is enough” and describing themselves as “concerned parents.
Chief Superintendent Clair Haynes, who oversaw the policing operation, stated: “We have been in discussions with the organisers of both protests in recent days, building on the ongoing engagement between local officers, community groups and partners.
Migrants Arrive at Canary Wharf Hotel
The Islington demonstrations coincided with footage showing a bus-load of migrants moving into the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf during the early hours of Saturday morning. The arrivals, who appeared to all be men dressed in dark colours and carrying brown envelopes, were filmed being ushered into the four-star hotel by masked security guards.
Video footage circulating online shows a large white coach pulling into the hotel’s security barrier at approximately 2am. Sixty-two men were seen disembarking and being swiftly escorted into the building by staff and security teams wearing body cameras.
The Britannia International Hotel, which boasts approximately 500 rooms, is reportedly costing the government £80 per room per night (equivalent to $100 at current exchange rates) to house asylum seekers. The arrivals are believed to be the first wave of migrants to occupy the Canary Wharf facility.
Council Demands Safeguarding Measures
Tower Hamlets Council confirmed the government’s decision to repurpose the hotel, with a spokesperson stating: “We are aware of the Government’s decision to use the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers. It is important that the Government ensures that there is a full package of support for those staying at the hotel.”
The council added: “We are working with the Home Office and partners to make sure that all necessary safety and safeguarding arrangements are in place.
However, the council has criticised the Home Office and its contractor Clearsprings for inadequate consultation, revealing that crucial emails were mistakenly sent to a contractor no longer associated with the authority.
Police Impose Strict Conditions
The Metropolitan Police imposed stringent conditions on Saturday’s protests to prevent serious disorder. The force confined anti-asylum protesters to King Square, whilst counter-demonstrators were restricted to Lever Street near the junction with Central Street. Both gatherings were limited to running between 1.30pm and 4pm.
Our officers will police without fear or favour, ensuring those exercising their right to protest can do so safely but intervening at the first sign of actions that cross the line into criminality,” Chief Superintendent Haynes said.
The force also confirmed contingency plans were in place to respond to any protest activity near other London hotels being used to accommodate asylum seekers, following similar demonstrations in Epping, Essex, earlier in the week.
Political Figures Take Sides
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, the long-serving Islington MP, threw his weight behind the counter-protest, joining calls to “stand together against hate.” The Stand Up to Racism demonstration also received support from Finsbury Park Mosque and Islington Labour Party.
Student counter-protester Pat Prendergast, 21, told reporters: “I want people to feel safe. I think the rival protesters over there are making people feel unsafe. I want to stand up in solidarity and say that, you know, we want people here.”
Meanwhile, the original protest organisers argued their demonstration had been “endorsed by groups from outside the local community,” increasing attendance beyond local residents concerned about the impact on their neighbourhood.
Pattern of Nationwide Protests
Saturday’s demonstrations form part of a wider pattern of protests targeting hotels housing asylum seekers across the UK. Earlier in the week, protests outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, led to violent clashes and multiple arrests after allegations that an asylum seeker had attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl.
The escalating tensions have prompted warnings from police forces nationwide. In Newcastle, where similar protests were scheduled for Saturday, organisers of a counter-demonstration stated: “In Epping and elsewhere recently we have already seen intimidation and violence aimed at refugees, migrants and asylum seekers.”
The protests reflect growing community tensions over the government’s use of hotels for asylum accommodation, with costs reportedly averaging £118.87 per night as of March 2025, down from £162.16 in March 2023.
As rival groups continue to mobilise and tensions escalate, questions remain about the sustainability of using hotels as long-term accommodation solutions for asylum seekers and the impact on local communities across the capital.
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