Five arrested after attempt to storm West London asylum hotel
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Masked men tried to storm a London asylum hotel during anti-asylum protests, as police issued dispersal orders and clashes spread to Scotland.
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Police officers watch protesters outside the Bell Hotel in England on August 29, 2025 after a temporary injuction that would have blocked asylum seekers from being housed at the hotel was overtuned. (AP)
Five people were arrested on Saturday after masked men attempted to enter a hotel housing asylum seekers in west London. The Metropolitan Police said the incident occurred around noon, when two anti-asylum groups marched to the Crowne Plaza on Stockley Road.
A group of masked men tried to break in through the rear entrance, damaging security fences. Other demonstrators moved toward the nearby Novotel on Cherry Lane and a Holiday Inn.
Police response and dispersal orders
Met police enforced cordons to prevent further disorder, making three arrests on site. Two officers suffered minor injuries, and two additional arrests were made as crowds were dispersed.
A Section 35 dispersal order was issued, allowing officers to remove people from the area if they were suspected of causing disruption. Cmdr Adam Slonecki, overseeing policing in London this weekend, said:
“Around 500 protesters were in the area, but most people have now dispersed from the immediate vicinity. However, further arrests will be made if we need to tackle disorder.”
Protests and restrictions in Essex
In Essex, police imposed a Section 60AA order—giving them powers to remove face coverings—before a planned protest in Epping on Saturday evening. The order is set for 24 hours, alongside a dispersal order covering the town’s main high street and the Bell hotel area until 4am Sunday.
Assistant Chief Constable Glen Pavelin said “We never take the decision to impose restrictions on members of the public lightly. However, we must guard against the impact of antisocial behaviour on our community.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer weighed in on X, stressing: “We will not reward illegal entry. If you cross the Channel unlawfully, you will be detained and sent back.”
Meanwhile in Scotland, activists gathered outside the Cladhan Hotel in Falkirk, where asylum seekers are housed. They were met by hundreds of counter-protesters. Local MP Euan Stainbank called for reform:
“We must fix the broken asylum system … ending needless processing pauses will allow us to close all the Tory-created asylum hotels during this parliament.”
The Falkirk protest marked the second in two weeks, following a demonstration outside a facility in Perth.
