The Home Office has terminated its contract with the Bell hotel in Epping, Essex, following a series of violent far-right protests that erupted after an asylum seeker residing there committed sexual assaults. All asylum seekers have been removed from the hotel, with the contract ending on 11 July.
The hotel became a flashpoint for anti-immigration demonstrations last summer after Hadush Kebatu, an asylum seeker living at the hotel, sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl and a woman. Kebatu was deported to Ethiopia in October. The protests, exploited by far-right activists, escalated into violent clashes with police, resulting in dozens of arrests.
Epping District Council announced on Thursday night that it had been informed of the removal of residents. The Home Office cited fire and safety concerns as the reason for the evacuation but did not clarify whether residents would return after remedial work. Local opponents of far-right activity expressed concern that the council's statement effectively prevented residents from returning, even if the removal was initially temporary.
In November, the High Court ruled that asylum seekers could continue to be housed at the hotel, rejecting the council's bid for a permanent injunction, which argued the site was a “feeding ground for unrest and protest.” Protests continued intermittently, with security guards and police attacked in racially motivated incidents.
A Home Office spokesperson stated: “The government is removing the incentives drawing illegal migrants to Britain. That is why we will close every single asylum hotel, moving illegal migrants into basic accommodation like military barracks.”
