Five arrests after masked men attempt to enter hotel as asylum protests continue |

Five people have been arrested after a group of masked men attempted to enter a hotel in London as anti-asylum protests continued across the country.Ongoing protests over the use of hotels are taking place around the country after the Government won a Court of Appeal challenge against an injunction which would have seen asylum seekers moved out of the Bell Hotel, Epping.

Most demonstrations appeared to be peaceful as police braced for further protests over the weekend after the Government won a court challenge on Friday, meaning asylum seekers can continue to be housed at the Bell Hotel in Essex.

In Scotland, angry activists who descended on a hotel housing asylum seekers in Falkirk on Saturday were met by hundreds of counter-protesters.Leader of Epping Forest council calls for calm after court of appeal ruling
The leader of Epping Forest district council has called for calm after the court of appeal ruled asylum seekers can stay at the Bell hotel in Essex.

Councillor Chris Whitbread told Times Radio:

I call for calm. There’s been peaceful protests and there’s been non peaceful protests outside the hotel.

We saw yesterday the government say that asylum seekers have more rights than my residents. I’m really cross with this ruling. Obviously we’ll now reflect on where we are.

Obviously we’re still going to court in October to go for a final injunction and we will be pushing hard to make sure that’s successful, but we will do everything we can still.

This is an awful position for the town … I’m really concerned for the future of the town at the moment.

Councillor Ken Williamson from Epping Forest district council speaks to the media outside the high court in London after Friday’s ruling.
Councillor Ken Williamson from Epping Forest district council speaks to the media outside the high court in London after Friday’s ruling. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA
Speaking outside the London court after the ruling, Ken Williamson, member of cabinet for Epping Forest district council said:

We understand government faces a dilemma, but that should not be at the expense of local communities.

Planning law may seem dull, it might seem boring, but it goes to the heart of the relationship between local communities and good government. It enshrines the rights of local people to have a say within their own communities, and it should not be set aside lightly. The government can still listen.

It needs to understand and take responsibility for the events that have taken place in Epping over the past six weeks, for the trauma and disruption brought upon our community.

The council could still be granted an injunction after a full hearing of the legal claim, which is due to be heard in October.

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