Police Step In as Migrant Removal from Britannia Hotel Sparks Protest
Chaos erupted outside the Britannia Hotel in East London this afternoon as crowds tried to block taxis and people carriers ferrying migrants away from the site. Police quickly moved in to restore order.
Tense Standoff at Britannia Hotel
Witnesses reported multiple Addison Lee vehicles and other people carriers pulling up at the hotel grounds before leaving with groups of migrants. Around 30 protesters gathered, attempting to stop the vehicles from departing. The standoff forced officers to form a police cordon to clear a path and prevent disorder.
So far, no arrests have been made.
Why the Migrants are Being Moved is Unknown
The exact reason for relocating migrants from the Britannia Hotel remains unclear. The hotel has served as accommodation for asylum seekers and has been a flashpoint for protests and counter-protests in recent weeks.
A Home Office spokesperson has been contacted for comment on the current use of the hotel and the migrant relocation.
Met Police Warn Protesters to Stay Within the Law
A Met Police spokesperson said: “We continue to have officers deployed in the vicinity of the Britannia International Hotel where protests have taken place over recent days and weeks.
They are there to provide reassurance to local residents and businesses, to ensure any protest takes place peacefully and to respond to incidents.
We encourage those exercising their lawful right to protest to do so responsibly and with consideration to the local community.
Anyone crossing from lawful protest into criminality can expect swift police action.”
