Protesters mockingly chanted ‘Where’s your Tommy gone?’ after the far-right leader failed to show up despite promising to bring ‘thousands of patriots’ to the migrant hotel.
Tommy Robinson was expected to be among protesters gathering again at The Bell Hotel in Epping but failed to show in the largely peaceful protests which saw three arrests.
The protests were sparked after an asylum seeker was charged with attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl.
Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, denies the charges and will stand trial in August.
A counter-protest organised by Stand Up to Racism began at 2pm.
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By 5pm, the anti-racism group was declaring victory. As they marched back to Epping station they were met with a group of activists chanting ‘paedos’.
The anti-racists goaded them some flipping them the bird as they chanted ‘Where’s your Tommy gone?’
A small group penned in to fences were seen dancing to Dancing Queen by ABBA as they drank beers on a patch of green. Others sang We Are The Champions as the Stand Up to Racism protesters left the Essex village.
In a statement, they said: ‘Today anti-racists have outnumbered the far right in Epping.
‘This matters because we are at a dangerous moment.’
The group claimed that the far right were being ‘egged on’ by some politicians to ‘protest violently outside refugee hotels in a repeat of last summer’s riots’.
Referring to riots sparked after last summer’s Stockport stabbings, they added: ‘Today we showed, like we did last August, that we can stop them.’
Despite their claims of victory, numerous online streams protesting against the migrants being housed in hotels shared footage from the scene.
One, which attracted thousands of views, showed police in riot gear separating the two sets of protestors.
At one point the man filming the protest claimed the anti-racism protesters were on their way because ‘we can smell them’.
Designated sites for protesters were set up opposite the building, and anyone attending was be banned from wearing face coverings, police said.
Officers will also have the power to remove anyone suspected of anti-social behaviour through a dispersal order in place around Epping from 12pm today until 8am on Monday.
Speaking after the protests took place, Essex Police’s Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow revealed there had been three arrests on Sunday.
He added: ‘I am pleased that today has passed off without incident and I am grateful to our colleagues from other forces for their support.’
The three arrest people included a 52-year-old man from Loughton who was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence.
A 53-year-old woman from Loughton was detained on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence connected with a previous protest and a 27-year-old woman from Deptford was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and a public order offence.
They were all being held in custody on Sunday night, police said.
Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) – who wrote last week that he would bring ‘thousands’ with him to the Essex town – has threatened to attend the rally as well.
However he has more recently played down the prospect of him coming to the protest.
Residents have reported feeling ‘trapped’ and unable to leave their homes during demonstrations.
Hotel residents and staff have been advised to remain indoors after 5pm as some have experienced verbal and physical harassment.
It comes amid reports of an ‘escalation of violence’ during previous protests in the area on July 13, 17, 20 and 24, all involving hundreds of people.
This included missiles being thrown, vehicles vandalised, officers assaulted and damage to the hotel including graffiti and smashed windows.
Yesterday, two further people were charged following violent disorder in the area.
Lee Gower, 43, was detained after beating an emergency worker from an incident on July 17 and has been remanded in custody to appear at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Saturday July 26.
Joshua Meadows, 18, was charged with failing to adhere to a request by a constable to remove an item he was wearing and possession of cannabis on July 24.
He has been bailed to Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on 24 September.
Who owns the Bell Hotel Epping?
The Bell Hotel is owned by the Somani Hotels group, which also operates several properties in neighbouring counties, including the Aubrey Park Hotel in St Albans.
The group is owned by businessman Hassan Somani.
What happened at Brook Hotel Norwich?
Another protest took place at a hotel housing asylum seekers in Bowthorpe near Norwich on Saturday.
Anti-asylum seeker protesters clashed with counter-demonstrators outside both the Brook Hotel and Diss Hotel.
Some protesters shouted slogans including ‘We want our country back’.
While the rally was reported to be noisy and intense, officers said it was largely peaceful.
Superintendent Wes Hornigold said: ‘We would like to thank the public for their understanding today, particularly during some short periods of disruption whilst groups were exercising their rights to peaceful protest.’
Two men in their 20s were arrested at the protests and taken to Wymondham Police Investigation Centre where they remain, Norfolk Police said.
There have also been protests outside the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf which is reportedly set to be used to offer temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.
Why are hotels being used to house asylum seekers?
The government is using hotels to house asylum seekers due to a shortage of alternative accommodation.
Under the Immigration Act, the Home Secretary is obliged to provide accommodation to all destitute asylum seekers while their claims are being determined.
The increased use of hotels also comes amid an increase in migrants crossing the Channel in small boats and a backlog in unsolved asylum cases.
The number of people receiving asylum support in hotels reached a peak in September 2023, when 45 per cent of asylum seekers were housed in these facilities.
As many as 220 hotels were in use in July 2024, government statistics show.
Since coming to power last year, Labour has said it remains committed to ending the procurement of asylum hotels and aims to return to the use of dispersed accommodation once the backlog has been reduced.
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