<
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/aug/04/rioters-try-to-torch-rotherham-asylum-seeker-hotel-amid-far-right-violence>
"A far-right-led mob of masked rioters tried to set fire to a hotel housing
asylum seekers as further violence flared across the country at
anti-immigration protests.
About 700 people gathered outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, before
clashing with police. Some rioters hurled pieces of wood, bottles and chairs,
and sprayed fire extinguishers at police officers.
South Yorkshire police said at least 10 officers had been injured, including
one who was left unconscious with a head injury.
Footage from the scene showed a bin on fire and protesters, some draped in St
George and union flags, chanting: “Get them out.” The demonstrators appeared at
one point to storm into the hotel, with reports of a fire inside, and people
peering out of windows.
The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, condemned the rioters: “The criminal,
violent attack on a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham is utterly
appalling,” she said. “Deliberately setting fire to a building with people
known to be inside.
“South Yorkshire police have full government support for the strongest action
against those responsible.”
Rioters clash with police outside of the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers,
Rotherham, which is being used to house asylum seekers.
Protests at the Holiday Inn Express began at midday, immediately turning into a
riot when a mob of far-right individuals, mostly men, smashed windows and set a
stairwell in the building alight, temporarily overwhelming police.
Shabnam Shabir, who came as part of a group of counter-protesters, said she had
been left traumatised after her group was surrounded and kettled by the mob,
who chanted racist words and called her the p-word.
“It was a lot of angry, angry, angry far right,” she said. “This is very
scary.”
She was left stranded in her car outside the hotel, unable to leave until the
rioters did. “And we have people inside of the hotel who are scared for their
lives so it’s terrifying.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
