A protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in north-west England erupted into violence on Friday, with projectiles thrown and a police van set on fire.
Merseyside Police said three people were arrested over “disorderly incidents” near the Suites Hotel in Knowsley, near Liverpool.
The force said there was an “initially peaceful” protest outside the hotel, as well as a counter-protest by protesters supporting the refugees.
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Police said there were no reports of serious injuries, but called the violence “completely unacceptable.”
An anti-refugee protest gone wrong in the UK ended with three arrests.
Local lawmaker George Howarth said the demonstration was sparked by “an alleged incident on social media.”
“The people of Knowsley are not bigoted and welcome people fleeing some of the world’s most dangerous places in search of safety,” he said. “Those demonstrating against refugees in this protest tonight do not represent this community.”
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Britain is accepting fewer asylum seekers than some of its European neighbors, including France and Germany, but has seen a sharp increase in the number of people trying to reach the UK via the English Channel on boats and other small boats.
More than 45,000 people arrived in Britain via that route in 2022, with the majority applying for asylum. The system for considering asylum claims has slowed down due to political turmoil and bureaucratic delays, leaving many migrants stuck in hotels or other temporary accommodation.
The Channel crossings have become a hot political issue, with the Conservative government vowing to “stop the ships”. Opponents accuse the government of demonizing desperate people fleeing war and poverty.
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In October, an attacker who police say was motivated by far-right ideology burned down a processing center for new arrivals in the Channel port of Dover. He committed suicide after the attack.
