Migrant protests have descended into anarchy as a wave of demonstrations took place around the UK during a weekend of fury over asylum seeker hotels.
Today more than 30 protests were held in towns including Bristol, Exeter, Tamworth, Cannock, Nuneaton, Liverpool, Wakefield, Newcastle, Horley, Canary Wharf, Aberdeen and Perth in Scotland, and Mold in Wales.
Counter-protests, many set up by anti-fascist group Stand Up To Racism, have also turned out at many of the locations outside hotels housing asylum seekers.
Several demonstrators have been seen scuffling with police and shouting at the opposing side as chaos unfolds across the country.
There are fears that some of the locations could see an outbreak in disorder similar to last summer after the Southport attack, which triggered riots across the country in response to fake information being published online that the attacker was a migrant.
Many are hoping protests will ultimately result in a ruling for The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, which must close to asylum seekers in weeks unless an appeal is granted.
Demonstrations first began in Epping after it was revealed that one resident, an asylum seeker from Ethiopia, had been accused of sexually assaulting a local schoolgirl.
It was alleged that he tried to kiss the 14-year-old. He denies the allegations.
Mounted police officers scuffle with demonstrators during a protest by Abolish Asylum System and counter protesters at Castle Park in Bristol
Children were among those attending a protest in Perth and were seen jeering and making obscene hand gestures at counter-protesters
Anti-migrant campaigners are set to gather at more than 30 protests across the UK this weekend to express anger outside hotels housing asylum seekers
Demonstrations by the Abolish Asylum System slogan are being held in major towns and cities around England
Hundreds of people turned up to protest against Home Office plans to house asylum seekers in flats in the town centre of Mold, North Wales
People demonstrating at an Abolish Asylum System protest outside the Radisson Hotel in Perth on Saturday morning
A large group of counter protesters pose for photos as they hold a banner reading ‘No to racism, refugees welcome’ in Perth
Many protesters held signs reading ‘get them out’ and ‘Perth is full’ at a protest outside the Radisson Hotel
On Saturday morning protesters began to gather outside a hotel in Perth, and were greeted with counter-protesters
Mounted police officers are deployed during a protest by Abolish Asylum System and counter demonstrators at Castle Park in Bristol
After a ruling which stated the hotel must close to asylum seekers following weeks of protests, the Home Secretary and the hotel itself announced plans to seek to appeal against the injunction.
On Saturday morning protesters began to gather outside a hotel in Perth and at other locations across the country, and were greeted with counter-protesters.
Many held signs calling for the hotel to be emptied and for tougher government action on immigration.
A group called Abolish Asylum System held a protest outside the Radisson Blu on Saturday morning.
It was met with a counter-protest organised by Perth Against Racism, with the sides chanting and shouting at each other.
The site, previously known as the Station Hotel, is near Perth’s railway station and the two sides stood across from each other in the car park with a police presence.
The anti-immigration protesters held up signs with slogans such as ‘Perth is full – empty the hotels’ and ‘get them out’.
Their opponents held a banner saying ‘No to racism, refugees welcome’. The groups dispersed in the early afternoon.
In Bristol, originally just a couple of dozen anti-migrant protesters turned up and were separated by a larger group of counter-protesters by police
Police try to contain anti-immigration protests in Perth
Later scuffles broke out between police and protesters and mounted police officers in full riot gear were deployed
People take part in a counter protest against an Abolish Asylum System protest outside the Radisson Hotel in Perth on Saturday
Anti-immigration protesters gesture towards counter-activists in Perth while dressed in Union Jacks
People demonstrating outside the asylum hotel in Horley
Two men draped in Union Jack flags sit on a bench during an anti-immigration protest in Newcastle
Stand Up to Racism Scotland said it had achieved ‘victory’ in Perth, with more than 200 gathering to oppose the Abolish Asylum System demonstration.
Perth Against Racism released a statement saying: ‘The actions today promoted by far-right groups from within and without Scotland are branded as concern about local communities.
‘Everyone has a right to be concerned about housing, about healthcare, about schools, about safety in our communities, but why do migrants come into it?
‘They do not control the policies and systems that fail our communities. It’s the same old bigotry rebranded as concern about the community.’
Before the protest, political leaders on Perth and Kinross Council issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment as a ‘council of sanctuary’.
It said: ‘We defend the right to peaceful protest, but protests targeted at those who in many cases have lost their homes and family members to war does not reflect the compassion, solidarity and fairness our communities are known for.
‘That is why we are asking all residents to look beyond the misleading headlines and misinformation and treat those seeking refuge in our area the same way they would hope to be treated.’
A sign on the floor reads ‘stop the boats get them out’ in Newcastle
A man waves a Union Jack as abolish Asylum System protesters and counter protests take place at Castle Park in Bristol
In Perth, asylum seekers watch and photograph the protests from inside the Radisson Hotel
A crowd of anti-immigration protesters waving Union Jacks and England flags outside the New Bridge Hotel in Newcastle
Police across Britain are out on the streets in force to police the protests and keep opposing groups separated. Pictured: People take part in a counter protest to a Stand Up To Racism rally outside the Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Horley, Surrey
Police officers stand guard between rival protest groups in Castle Park, Bristol
Protests at a hotel in Aberdeen are due to take place later on Saturday.
In Bristol, just a couple of dozen anti-migrant protesters were originally pictured separated by a line of officers from a far larger pro-refugee group. More later arrived and mounted police officers were deployed.
Around 200 anti-immigration protesters draped in St George’s and Union flags clashed with roughly 50 Stand Up to Racism protesters on Bonehurst Road in Horley, West Sussex.
The anti-racism protesters chanted ‘say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here’ and held signs calling for solidarity and called to ‘stop deportations’.
They were met with a torrent of abuse from the anti-migration group, one of whom yelled through a megaphone ‘you’re all scum and you should be ashamed’ and that ‘this wasn’t about racism’.
The two groups almost came together in the early afternoon, with lines of police separating them.
Cops struggled to contain the anti-immigration protesters who chanted ‘paedo’ as anti-racism protesters were shepherded away.
Mounted police officers scuffle with demonstrators during a protest by Abolish Asylum System and counter protesters at Castle Park in Bristol
A man protesting immigration holds a sign reading ‘stop the boats’ outside the New Bridge Hotel in Newcastle on August 23
A anti-immigration protester wears a t-shirt reading ‘keep Britain British’ in Newcastle this afternoon
The Stand Up to Racism protesters were guided into a smaller area as they continued to chant ‘no hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here’ which were met with ‘no they’re f****** not’ from the other side of the street.
From just after 12pm until around 1.30pm the atmosphere remained tense as officers kept the two groups apart.
One man wearing a West Ham United football shirt, was held by the police as he yelled ‘you’re not welcome here, you’re not welcome here, you’re not welcome here’ going along the line of anti-racism protesters.
Officers struggled to keep the groups separated as they tried to move the Stand Up to Racism protesters through the anti-migrant crowd.
The anti-racism protesters chanted that refugees were welcome, held signs calling for solidarity and called for ‘racist scum’ to get off the streets.
They were met with a torrent of abuse from the anti-migration group, one of whom yelled through a megaphone ‘you’re all scum and you should be ashamed’ and that ‘this wasn’t about racism’.
‘You’re being paid, you don’t want to be here, you would not be here from your own free will’ shouted the man in the West Ham shirt, who accused the anti-racism protesters of being ‘bussed in from Brighton’.
Later, the anti-immigration protesters sang songs in support of far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.
Counter protesters arrive to confront the anti-immigration protest in Mold, Wales
A counter protester holds a sign reading ‘migrants are welcome no room for hate’ in Mold, North Wales
Pictured: Counter-protestors in Mold arrive at the anti-immigration protest holding Welsh flags
A Stand Up to Racism protester said: ‘Not everyone in a hotel is a rapist, I’m not here to defend rapists, I’m here to defend ordinary people.
‘F*** the rapists, I’m not here to defend them, none of us are.
‘If you’re against racism and you’re against women being touched we should all be together, because that’s what we all believe, that’s what I believe.’
One anti-immigration protester, wearing a West Ham United shirt, offered his hand out and said that was a ‘valid’ statement, but a couple of minutes later, he sat on another man’s shoulders yelling ‘what you’re doing is disgusting’ at the anti-racism protesters.
The Stand Up to Racism protesters continued to chant ‘no hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here’ which was met with calls of ‘no they’re f****** not’ from the other side of the street.
There were calls of ‘two-tier policing’ from anti-immigration protesters who appeared frustrated by attempts to separate them from the anti-racism group.
Emma Taylor-Beale, who was protesting for Stand Up to Racism, said she believed the anti-immigration protests were a result of ‘people buying into lies’.
A far right group campaigning against migrants in the New Bridge Hotel stand off against a counter group defending the refugees
Counter-protesters held signs reading ‘refugees welcome’ in Perth on Saturday
Anti-racism groups have warned the ruling sets a ‘dangerous precedent’, with Stand Up To Racism saying that it will ’embolden the far-Right to call more protests outside hotels housing refugees’
She told the PA news agency: ‘I’ve got a heart for anyone who’s got a need and our migrant community deserve protection, they deserve dignity, they’ve been through enough.’
Ms Taylor-Beale said she was not surprised at the number of anti-immigration protesters that had turned out to the demonstration, given what she had seen on social media.
‘This time last year when we had the riots in the summer, all of us showing support were the massive majority in Brighton and in Crawley, and the far-right were there, but they weren’t like the members of the public,’ she added.
‘This isn’t just the far-right, you can’t label everyone on that side who’s come out as far-right, I think people are buying into lies, they’re angry, they’re hurt and people have got a reason to be angry right now.’
Ms Taylor-Beale argued that economic inequality and the housing crisis were at the root of the divide.
Eventually the Stand Up to Racism protesters were escorted back towards Horley train station where their march had begun.
Demonstrators have also gathered outside of a migrant hotel in Tamworth, Staffordshire.
A man gesticulates while attending a counter-protest in Perth
Anti-migrant protesters gather outside the Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Horley, Surrey
Tamworth Council has said it would look to challenge the use of the Holiday Inn Express in town, which was a focus of violent disorder during the Southport riots last summer.
In a statement, it said: ‘The situation at Epping Forest represents a potentially important legal precedent, and we are carefully assessing what this might mean for our circumstances here in Tamworth.’
In Newcastle, demonstrators have gathered outside the New Bridge Hotel.
Newcastle City Council has been in active talks with the Home Office this month to end the use of a city hotel to house asylum seekers, with Newcastle Labour leader Karen Kilgour having called for it to be closed down.
Yvette Cooper has warned the asylum system would be plunged into ‘chaos’ if migrant hotels were forced to close as a result of ‘piecemeal court decisions’ by councils bringing copycat litigation.
Labour has said it plans to end the use of asylum hotels, but that this must be done in an orderly fashion.
It comes after a judge ordered the hotel to temporarily shut after Epping Forest District Council argued it was necessary for ‘the safety of nearby residents’ and to reduce the threat of ‘violent protests’.
Protesters from an anti-immigration group demonstrate against uncontrolled immigration outside Radisson Hotel
Mounted police officers are deployed during a protest by Abolish Asylum System and counter demonstrators at Castle Park in Bristol
People holding signs take part in a counter protest against an Abolish Asylum System protest outside the Radisson Hotel in Perth. One sign reads: ‘Don’t chose hate it’s not too late’
Meanwhile, police forces were braced for a wave of protests at hotels across the country this weekend as communities seek to replicate the results of Tuesday’s High Court ruling.
The Home Secretary said: ‘We agree with communities across the country that all asylum hotels need to close, including the Bell Hotel, and we are working to do so as swiftly as possible as part of an orderly, planned and sustained programme.
‘That is the reason for the Home Office appeal in this case, to ensure that going forward, the closure of all hotels can be done in a properly managed way.’
The ruling threatens to collapse Labour’s asylum system as protesters take to the streets and councils across the country prepare to hit the Home Office with copycat litigation over the use of hotels in their areas.
But anti-racism groups have warned the ruling sets a ‘dangerous precedent’, with Stand Up To Racism saying that it will ’embolden the far-Right to call more protests outside hotels housing refugees’.
Responding to the Government’s legal bid, Epping Forest District Council’s finance chief Holly Whitbread said the move was ‘deeply disappointing’.
She said: ‘I hope that the Court of Appeal will make the right decision in upholding the decision of the High Court.
‘It’s not a piecemeal court decision, it’s a decision on a planning point.’
‘The Government keep churning out the line that they’re going to get all the hotels closed by the end of this Parliament. Our community can’t afford to wait another four years.’