Rage Erupts as Hundreds Protest Outside Essex Asylum Hotel Over Schoolgirl Assault
Hundreds of furious locals stormed the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, on Thursday evening (17 July 2025). Their anger flared after a shocking court appearance of an asylum seeker charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
Outrage Over Assault Charges
The Bell Hotel, used as refugee accommodation for five years, suddenly became the centre of a community firestorm. 38-year-old Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, an Ethiopian national, faces multiple sex offence charges, including:
- Three counts of sexual assault
- One count of incitement
Locals voiced their horror. One baffled resident said, “Our kids can’t walk home from school without fear.” A concerned mother insisted, “This isn’t about racism. It’s about protecting our children. We don’t know these men, and they haven’t been vetted.”
Scenes Turn Chaotic
As the evening wore on, tensions hit boiling point. Protesters tried to block police vehicles and broke through barricades. Placards were snatched and hurled amid shouts. Earlier in the week, a wire fence was put up around the hotel after previous unrest.
Even children wearing balaclavas joined in, blocking roads with adults. Riot police formed lines to shield roughly 50 anti-racism campaigners, heavily outnumbered and surrounded by the angry crowd.
Police and Community Response
Essex Police confirmed Kebatu’s arrest followed multiple reports of inappropriate behaviour. The investigation continues. Meanwhile, the public fury has reignited debates over temporary asylum housing in residential zones. Locals are now demanding the Bell Hotel’s closure to migrants.
No arrests have been reported from Thursday’s protests yet, but officers remain on high alert as tensions simmer.
How to Report
Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Essex Police on 101 or report anonymously via Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.
