Police arrest 15 as protests against housing asylum seekers in hotels sweep UK

Protests have taken place across the United Kingdom against the housing of asylum seekers in hotels.

Demonstrators gathered in several parts of England, including Bristol, Liverpool, London, Mold, Perth, and County Antrim in Northern Ireland, Caliber.Az reports per Western media.

The protests were met with counter-demonstrations organised by the Stand Up To Racism movement. Clashes broke out in several cities between anti-immigration protesters and anti-racist activists. Police were forced to separate the groups and detained at least 15 people, including a woman in Bristol suspected of assaulting an emergency worker.

Anti-immigration demonstrators carried signs reading “Stop the Boats” and chanted “Send Them Home.” Counter-protesters responded with banners declaring “No to Racism” and “Refugees Welcome.”

In Liverpool, Merseyside Police reported 11 arrests for offences including disorder and fighting. In Perth, around 150 people protested outside the Radisson Blu hotel, while more than 200 counter-protesters rallied with anti-racist slogans.

Amid the protests, Bristol City Council announced it would not challenge the use of hotels to temporarily house migrants. Meanwhile, a recent Essex court ruling that banned the use of one hotel for asylum seekers has set a precedent, fueling fresh protest movements.

By Khagan Isayev