Violent disorder erupted outside The Bell Hotel in Epping on Sunday evening as anti-immigration protesters clashed with counter-demonstrators following sexual assault charges against an asylum seeker housed at the venue.
The three-star hotel on High Road descended into what witnesses described as “bloody mayhem” as hundreds gathered to protest after Ethiopian national Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was charged with three counts of sexual assault allegedly committed just nine days after arriving in Britain by boat. Essex Police officers battled to contain the chaos as activists from opposing groups brawled in the street.
Shocking footage from the scene showed one man bleeding heavily from his head as he limped towards the hotel entrance. “Go home you c***, go home. F*** off back on your boat and go,” one protester was heard shouting as the injured man hobbled past a line of police officers.
Arrests Follow Sexual Assault Allegations
The protest followed Thursday’s arrest of Kebatu, who appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court 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. He denied all charges and was remanded in custody.
Essex Police said they were alerted to reports of a man acting inappropriately towards a teenager in High Road at 5.20pm on Tuesday, 8 July. Officers arrested Kebatu, whose address was given as High Road, Epping.
As a result of the work of officers, offences against a woman and another teenager, which were separate to those which had taken place on Tuesday, were then reported for the first time and an investigation was launched,” a police spokesman said.
Prosecutor Serena Berry told the court that one of Kebatu’s alleged victims had been approached “on a busy high street. She added that immigration authorities confirmed “he has only been in the UK since June 29, 2025” – with Home Office figures showing 585 migrants arrived on eight dinghies that day.
Street Battles and Police Response
Video footage captured multiple violent confrontations during Sunday’s protest. In one clip, two men were seen punching one another and wrestling next to a car before police charged in to break up the brawl.
A large crowd, some waving the flag of St George, massed opposite the hotel repeatedly chanting “protect our kids” as about a dozen police stood guard. Counter-protesters were seen holding signs reading “Refugees Welcome: Stop The Far-Right”.
Adam Brooks, an Essex-based publican and anti-knife campaigner whose father was stabbed to death when he was a child, was among those at the protest. There’s a protest because a migrant is alleged and was charged with sexual assault against a young girl in Epping High Road last week,” Brooks said.
“There are worried mothers, worried children, there’s grandmothers, fathers, uncles, grandads, and we’ve got an anti-racism lot that have turned up. Things are getting heated here. I just cannot believe that an anti-racism mob would turn up against something like this.”
Council Calls for Hotel Closure
The disorder has intensified calls for the closure of The Bell Hotel as migrant accommodation. Chris Whitbread, Conservative leader of Epping Forest District Council, wrote to the Home Secretary demanding the hotel’s closure “without delay.
From the outset, we warned the Home Office that this site is entirely inappropriate,” Whitbread said in a statement. “Placing vulnerable individuals from a wide range of cultural backgrounds into an unsupervised setting, in the centre of a small town, without the proper infrastructure, support or services, is both reckless and unacceptable.”
The council leader added: “It puts pressure on local services, causes understandable concern for residents, and is unfair on those placed in the hotel. The Home Office must now face the reality of the situation.
A petition launched by the council calling for the closure of The Bell Hotel and the Phoenix Hotel in Bobbingworth, which also accommodates migrants, has received more than 4,500 signatures.
Police Investigation Continues
Superintendent Tim Tubbs said Essex Police would maintain an increased presence in the area following the incidents. We respect everyone’s right to protest, and we police without fear of favour – these are important fundamentals of our work when it comes to public order,” he said.
We’ll be working with all our partner agencies in the coming days to hear their thoughts and establish how we can provide the most effective police response for events like this in the future.
The superintendent added: “As with all our policing of public events such as protests, we will review any body-worn video to ensure any offences are detected.
No arrests were reportedly made during Sunday’s disorder, though police said they would be reviewing footage from the incident.
History of Controversy
The petition launched by Epping Forest District Council warns of rising community tensions, stating: “Epping Forest has a history of extreme far-right activity, including the presence of groups such as the Homeland Party and previously elected British National Party councillors.
“The Government’s inaction risks fuelling division and undermining community cohesion. Our community feels ignored and let down. Epping Forest has been forced to carry an unfair burden in the ongoing illegal immigration crisis.”
The Bell Hotel had previously housed asylum seekers during the pandemic but was closed before being reopened by the Home Office. The council said it had “consistently and repeatedly opposed” its use for this purpose.
Superintendent Tubbs acknowledged the public concern surrounding the case but warned against speculation that might hinder the prosecution. “We have had continued, targeted patrols in the area since this incident and we plan for this to continue,” he said.
Kebatu is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 17 July, with a trial to take place within 56 days.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
