A peaceful demonstration by mothers and children wearing pink clothing descended into chaos this afternoon when approximately 30 masked men stormed the protest outside the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf, setting off smoke bombs and attempting to charge the security barriers.
The group of women and children had gathered outside the four-star hotel in Marsh Wall to protest against the government’s decision to house asylum seekers at the facility, holding England flags and chanting “stop the boats” whilst sitting peacefully on the pavement. However, the carefully orchestrated family demonstration was violently disrupted when balaclava-clad men swarmed the crowd, creating what witnesses described as a “huge bang” from smoke bombs before chanting offensive slogans about Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Metropolitan Police officers quickly intervened, pursuing the masked group as they fled the scene. A police spokesperson confirmed that “several arrests were made” following the incident, though exact numbers have not yet been released. The swift police response prevented the situation from escalating further, with officers maintaining a heavy presence around the hotel throughout the afternoon.
Peaceful Protesters Condemn Violence
Kim, a 60-year-old local resident who participated in the mothers’ protest, expressed her disgust at the violent disruption. “It is disgraceful. It completely upset the atmosphere,” she told reporters at the scene. “I don’t want to see that and I don’t want my kids to see. If that was one of my children I would be embarrassed. It ruined the atmosphere. This was meant to be a peaceful protest for women and children.”
The grandmother, who lives in the area, explained her concerns about safety that had prompted her to join the demonstration. “I live in this area, I have kids and grandkids and it needs to be safe for them to live. We don’t know them [asylum seekers], we don’t know what they’ve done. My son can’t get a house; he has been on the council list since he was 17.”
A 17-year-old protester known as “Young Bob”, who was part of the peaceful demonstration, criticised both the violent intrusion and counter-demonstrators who he claimed had labelled the mothers’ group as extremists. “The counter demonstrators libel us as Nazis,” he said. “But financial districts like these are not ideal for refugees who in the long term need integration.”
Hotel Conversion Sparks Ongoing Controversy
The Britannia International Hotel became a flashpoint for protests after Tower Hamlets Council confirmed last month that the government intended to use the 500-room facility for asylum seekers. The conversion follows a pattern of hotels across Britain being requisitioned for temporary migrant accommodation, with the Home Office spending an estimated £3 billion annually on such arrangements.
Footage captured in the early hours of Saturday morning showed a coach arriving at the hotel at approximately 1.40am, with passengers who appeared to be male asylum seekers disembarking under the supervision of masked security guards wearing body cameras. The new arrivals were dressed in matching grey tracksuits and were seen carrying brown envelopes as they entered the building.
The hotel’s transformation has disrupted regular guests, with multiple bookings cancelled at short notice. Workers were observed last week hauling beds and mattresses into the building, whilst Metropolitan Police erected metal fencing around the perimeter following initial protests.
Young Bob raised concerns about the location’s suitability for asylum accommodation. “During the weekday there are not a lot of people around. How will they assimilate into Britishness in this environment? Business people who had bookings in the hotel are being turned away which will impact businesses round here.”
Rising Tensions Across the Capital
Today’s incident represents an escalation in tensions surrounding asylum accommodation in London, following weeks of protests at various hotels across the capital. The demonstrations have drawn comparisons to unrest in Epping, Essex, where protests outside the Bell Hotel turned violent after an asylum seeker was charged with sexual assault.
A spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council previously stated: “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 that they were “working with the Home Office and partners to make sure that all necessary safety and safeguarding arrangements are in place.”
Local MP Apsana Begum has defended the use of the hotel, stating that Tower Hamlets “has a long history of providing a safe haven for those fleeing religious or political persecution.” However, her stance has drawn criticism from protesters who argue that local communities have not been adequately consulted.
Police Maintain High Alert
Metropolitan Police have maintained an increased presence around the Britannia Hotel since protests began in July, with officers forming protective cordons and helicopter surveillance deployed during larger demonstrations. The force has indicated that comprehensive policing plans remain in place to respond to any further protest activity.
Today’s violent disruption by masked individuals has raised concerns about the potential for extremist elements to exploit legitimate community concerns. The distinction between peaceful local protesters and violent agitators was stark, with the mothers’ group immediately distancing themselves from the masked men’s actions.
“The biggest diversity we can have is the diversity of opinion,” Young Bob reflected. “The protesters who disagree with us should relax in the expletives because it demonstrates a childishness.”
As investigations continue into today’s arrests, the incident highlights the increasingly volatile nature of the asylum accommodation debate across Britain. With more than 25,000 migrants arriving via small boats this year alone, and the government struggling to find suitable accommodation, tensions in local communities show no signs of abating.
The Home Office has not yet responded to requests for comment about today’s incident or future plans for the Britannia International Hotel.
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