THIS is the moment flares were seemingly launched outside the controversial Bell Hotel just one day after an asylum seeker was found guilty of assaulting a teenage girl.
Police were called to the Epping migrant accommodation in Essex on Friday night after protests erupted at around 9pm.
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Video footage shows asylum seekers walking to the entrance while demonstrators shout: “We don’t want you here”.
Smoke can be seen billowing from the front of the accommodation after what seems to be a flare or firework is fired.
Protesters alleged a migrant launched it, while asylum seekers have claimed demonstrators are responsible.
Essex Police confirmed they have arrested one man on suspicion of assault and he is in custody.
A dispersal order is also in place which will be in force until 6am on Saturday.
In a statement on Friday, the force said: “A dispersal order is in place in Epping and a man has been arrested in connection with anti-social behaviour in the town this evening (Friday 5 September).
“The order is in place to prevent the public from being harassed, alarmed or distressed as well as to prevent disorder and prevent damage to property.
“It gives officers the power to ask individuals committing anti-social behaviour, or believed to be intent on committing anti-social behaviour, to leave the area.
“If they do not leave, they risk being arrested.
“The order, which covers the area shown in the map, is in place until 6am tomorrow Saturday 6 September.
“One man has been arrested on suspicion of assault this evening and officers have taken him into custody.”
Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow added: “We’ll continue to have a significant policing presence in the area this evening and our officers will be back on patrol over the weekend.
“Lighting flares in public spaces poses a clear and real risk to anyone nearby.
“They cannot be used to damage property or harass others, and anyone we identify in connection with those used tonight will be subject to arrest.”
Meanwhile, a migrant staying at the hotel told Daily Mail he was scared for his life.
“There were loud bangs coming from outside and flames at the door. It happened at 9pm so it was dark,” they said.
“Police are here. We think someone has set fireworks off right outside. I fear they wanted to burn the building down.”
They said fellow hotel residents were terrified and dubbed the scenes “madness”.
“I am so shocked. I know people are angry. But this is putting our lives at danger,” they added.
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EPPING HOTEL MIGRANT CONVICTED
This comes after a migrant staying at the hotel was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl after he invited her back to his Epping hotel to “make babies”.
Hadush Kebatu, 41, put his hand on the teen’s thigh, tried to kiss her, and told her he wanted to marry her while she was in her school uniform.
The Ethiopian migrant, who previously worked as a teacher, carried out the attacks just eight days after arriving in Britain on a small boat.
Kebatu was living at the controversial Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, which has been at the centre of a landmark court battle.
The sex attack sparked mass anti-immigration protests across the country, with frustrated Brits demanding that asylum hotels be emptied.
Kebatu, who was assisted by a Tigrinya interpreter in court, has now been found guilty of five charges including sexually assaulting the 14-year-old girl and inciting her to engage in sexual activity.
He was also convicted of attempting to sexually assault the teen, harassment without violence and sexually assaulting a woman who had stepped in to help.
The Epping Forest District Council previously won a bid at the High Court to block migrants from being housed at the hotel.
The temporary injunction meant that the building had to be cleared of its occupants by September 12.
It also caused a ripple effect across the UK as more councils launched their own bids to boot migrants out of hotels in their towns.
But the Court of Appeal last week overturned the injunction following an appeal by the Home Office and hotel owners Somani – meaning the migrants can stay where they are for now.
A further hearing will come in October still after Epping Council accused the hotel of operating unlawfully.
PROTESTS SPARKED
Chaos continued to unfold at anti-migrant protests last week as cops made three arrests outside the Bell Hotel.
Unrest was triggered across the country after a ruling to boot migrants out of an Epping hotel was overturned.
Essex Police detained three people amid the clash, which saw two officers injured.
One man was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder, while another was taken into custody on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.
A third was taken in on suspicion of drink driving after they swerved onto wrong side of the road, towards a police cordon.
Elsewhere, footage taken in outside the Delta Marriot hotel in Chestnut, Hertfordshire, showed crowds being held back by officers as they try to break through barriers.
One copper could be seen pushing a riled demonstrator back by the neck.
Seconds later, another local holding a beer was knocked to the floor and hauled up by fellow protesters.
Similar scenes took place outside The Highfield house hotel in Southampton.
Pink Ladies members also stepped out near The Roundhouse in Bournemouth, Dorset.
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