LONDON, Aug 19, 2025 (MSN) — A High Court judge has ruled that the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, must cease housing asylum-seekers by September 12, following weeks of intense anti-migrant protests. The Epping Forest District Council sought the order due to “unprecedented levels of protest and disruption” after an asylum-seeker at the hotel, Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. Kebatu denies the charges and awaits trial later this month.
Protests outside the hotel, drawing thousands chanting “save our kids” and “send them home,” included local residents and far-right groups. Initially peaceful, the demonstrations turned violent, leading to nine arrests. Anti-racism counterprotests also took place. Philip Coppel, representing local officials, described the hotel’s asylum-seeker accommodation as a “feeding ground for unrest,” fueling community tensions.
The ruling comes against the backdrop of last summer’s anti-immigrant riots across England and Northern Ireland, sparked by the murder of three young girls in Southport. Misinformation online falsely linked the attacker to migrants, inciting attacks on hotels, mosques, and police stations. The UK’s policy of housing asylum-seekers in hotels has long been contentious, criticized for its high cost and for turning hotels into flashpoints, leaving migrants feeling targeted. It remains unclear where the displaced asylum-seekers from the Bell Hotel will be relocated.
