This is the shocking moment protesters attacked police vans as anger at a migrant hotel erupted in a town in Essex. Footage posted on X and verified by the Express shows a large mob surrounding police vehicles outside a Shell petrol station in Epping on Thursday (July 17)

At one point a masked yob can be seen trying to scramble up the windscreen of one police van which is struck by an object as its driver backs up and drives off. As a second van attempts to do turn, the same person gets onto its roof and starts jumping up and down. As the driver swerves round the protester is forced to jump back down and rejoins scores of people gathered in the middle of the street.

People had taken to the streets of the town to initially protest against The Bell Hotel being used to house asylum seekers. What started as a peaceful protest descended into chaos as anger mounted.

Police had been attempting to keep the anti-immigrant protesters and anti-racism counter-protesters apart. Eggs and fireworks were thrown into the crowds during a fractious stand off, which saw police officers at one point kettling one group of protesters down a residential street.

At one point, protesters threatened to attack the hotel, circling the venue as riot police were sent in. The hotel was at the centre of another clash on Sunday (July 13) after it emerged an asylum seeker had been charged with a number of offences.

Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was charged with three counts of sexual assault; one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and one count of harassment without violence, according to Essex Police.

Mr Kebatu appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (July 10) where he denied all offences. He was denied bail and remanded into custody ahead of his next hearing.

Two security guards were seriously assaulted by a group of men at a bus stop in Epping High Road at Sunday's protest. The two men managed to make their way past the protest into the hotel to get help.

Both have been treated in hospital for serious injuries, which the police said are neither life-threatening nor life-changing. Essex Police is treating what happened as racially aggravated.

A third incident took place on Tuesday (July 15) with a man shouting racial abuse at the hotel. He later caused damage to the venue.

Essex Police said it arrested a man on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence and criminal damage. He has been released on bail while enquiries continue.

Ch Supt Simon Anslow said: "Disruption and offending is never an appropriate response, no matter the strength of feeling in this case, and on this issue. People protesting peacefully, lawfully and responsibly cause us – and the wider public – no concern.

"However, we can never and will never tolerate criminal behaviour of any sort and anyone identified as committing crime will be dealt with robustly."