A series of demonstrations has taken place outside the Bell Hotel in Epping since asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was charged with sexual assault after an incident earlier this month, in which he is alleged to have attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl.
The force said the protests began peacefully but “escalated to the point of disorder and criminal damage”, with eight officers injured at one demonstration outside the hotel on Thursday evening and five men charged with disorder at the protests.
In an update to the gathered media in Chelmsford, Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said Essex Police had made ten arrests following the protests.
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