A woman has appeared in court after allegedly taking a meat cleaver to a hotel housing asylum seekers in east London. Channay Augustus, 22, was part of a group of about 20 people who tried to force their way into the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf on Wednesday evening, Thames Magistrates' Court heard.
The incident followed an earlier encounter at her mother's flat, located a five-minute walk from the hotel. Augustus allegedly discovered a migrant inside the flat, who she claimed was 'moving his hand' over his genital area. She chased the man away before rushing to the hotel at around 6am.
Upon arrival, Augustus confronted a security guard who attempted to calm her down. She left but returned shortly after with a meat cleaver, which she banged on a metal barrier outside the hotel while shouting 'f****** asylum seekers', the court was told. She was later arrested at her home.
Augustus's lawyer indicated she would deny charges of possession of an offensive weapon, affray, assault on an emergency worker, and common assault. She admitted to possession of cannabis. The migrant who entered her flat, in his early 20s, was arrested on suspicion of common assault and remains in police custody.
The Britannia Hotel has been the focus of protests in recent weeks, with both anti-migrant and pro-migrant demonstrators gathering at the site. Police confirmed arrests this week, including an anti-migrant protester accused of throwing a bottle at officers and a counter-protester who failed to remove a face covering.
Augustus, of Tower Hamlets, was remanded in custody to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on September 12.
