Three people have been arrested after a protest by activists against the UK's refugee settlement escalated into violent clashes with police on Friday night outside a hotel hosting asylum seekers near Liverpool.
Videos shared on social media show hundreds of people gathered outside a hotel in Knowsley, near Liverpool.
In some footage, a police van is seen on fire and officers are equipped with riot shields.
Several hundred far-right activists opposed to the reception of refugees in the United Kingdom gathered on Friday evening in front of this hotel, requisitioned since January 2022 by the Home Office to welcome asylum seekers there.
In support of the refugees housed inside, associations defending the rights of migrants had organized a counter-demonstration.
In a press release, the local police explained that they were covering an "
initially peaceful
" mobilization.
But "
during the evening, projectiles were thrown at the police and a police vehicle was damaged
", without causing any injuries.
“
A total of three people were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder
,” it added.
"
The scenes tonight are totally unacceptable
," said commissioner Paul White.
“
I was scared.
We came to the UK for safety
,” PA agency Ahmed, a 34-year-old asylum seeker staying at the hotel, told the agency.
“
People were crying
,” described another asylum seeker.
According to local Labor MP George Howarth, the protest was sparked by an "
alleged incident posted on social media
".
He also swept aside criticism that the refugees would be "
pampered
" in the hotel.
“
I try to get in touch with the poor men who are in the hotel, I can only imagine how terrified they must be
,” reacted Clare Moseley, head of the association for the defense of migrant rights Care4Calais.
"
If you don't want refugees to live in hotels, tell our government to consider their requests so that (refugees) can work
," Care4calais tweeted on Saturday.
"Rhetoric of hate"
Saturday afternoon, the British Ministry of the Interior had still not reacted to the incident.
According to Clare Moseley, “
the hateful and divisive rhetoric of our politicians is destroying our society and our British values
”.
The Conservative government, which has made the fight against immigration its priority for years, continues to toughen its rhetoric against refugees at a time when the asylum system is overwhelmed by the influx of migrants.
More than 45,000 people crossed the Channel in small makeshift boats in 2022 to seek asylum in the UK, a record.
Far-right Home Secretary Suella Braverman spoke in November of an "
invasion
" of England by migrants, sparking outcry in a country where the population remains overwhelmingly in favor of welcoming refugees, according to reports. surveys.
While waiting for asylum applications to be studied, the government is making massive use of hotels to house refugees, but is trying to reduce the bill by resorting to former holiday centres, student residences or military premises.
Read alsoWhy is the United Kingdom still attractive to migrants?
Last month, around 100 associations wrote to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak demanding an independent investigation into the fate of 200 unaccompanied minor migrants who went missing after being housed in hotels.