People believed to be asylum seekers appear to have moved into a glitzy four-star hotel in London under the cover of darkness.
A coach full of suspected migrants was seen arriving at the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf at around 1.40am on Saturday morning.
Tower Hamlets Council confirmed the Government intends to use the hotel – which has around 500 rooms – for asylum seekers in a move that has angered anti-migrant protesters and guests whose bookings have been cancelled.
Footage of the passengers getting off the coach showed they were all men, with the vast majority dressed in matching grey tracksuit tops and bottoms.
They were helped by masked security guards, some of whom appeared to be wearing body cameras.
Last week, workers were seen hauling beds and mattresses into the hotel in preparation for the arrival of ‘hundreds’ of asylum seekers.
A barricade of metal fencing was placed around the hotel by the Metropolitan Police after anti-migrant demonstrators protested the plan for immigrants to be housed there.
Met Police officers were called to the Britannia International Hotel last week amid warnings the ‘discontent is real’ in Britain.
Footage on social media shows eggs were thrown, while a police helicopter was circling above as officers on the ground blocked the entrance to the hotel which has more than 500 rooms and is located on the waterfront of the South Dock.
The Canary Wharf protest did not reach the violence seen in Epping, with YouTuber-types making up a large proportion of the crowd in preparation for any tension.
However, there were still dozens of protesters – some wearing masks and others draped in St George’s flags. One placard said: ‘This is a peaceful protest to protect our own.’
Counter-protesters also gathered outside the scene – and in one clip appeared to be escorted away from the hotel by police as protesters followed behind.
Furious hotel guests have left damning reviews online, claiming they were told their stays were ‘cancelled’.
One wrote: ‘My confirmed reservation was cancelled less than 24 hours before my stay via a brief phone call, citing a ‘private hire’ event.’
Another said: ‘Completely unprofessional company. Hotel cancelled my booking at last minute because they had a bulk booking.’
And a third fumed: ‘Booked in for three nights on 18th July. Told we couldn’t stay on Sunday night no explanation but waiter said they were closing. Left to go to other hotel 1 hr away on Sunday. Waste of a day.’
While guests claimed they were not given a reason for the cancellations, a spokesman for Tower Hamlets Council confirmed: ‘We are aware of the Government’s decision to use the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.
‘It is important that the Government ensures that there is a full package of support for those staying at the hotel.
‘We are working with the Home Office and partners to make sure that all necessary safety and safeguarding arrangements are in place.’
Local residents group chief Maxi Gorynski is an IT worker renting a high-rise flat in Canary Wharf.
He made clear he wanted to distinguish himself and fellow residents from far-right demonstrators, saying they were ‘notably distinct’.
However, he told the Financial Times he was concerned the suspected asylum seekers could bring ‘bag theft and gig economy fraud, all the way up to robbery, arson, sexual assault, rape, even murder’ to their area.
Felicity J Lord estate agent John Costea also told the FT that clients from the UK and abroad had asked ‘many questions’ about what is going on, such as ‘how is it going to reflect their property value’.
The Daily Mail has contacted the Home Office for comment.
Protests have broken out across the country this summer, with more than 150 gathering outside The Park Hotel, in Diss, Norfolk last week after the Home Office announced plans to change it from housing asylum-seeker families to single men.
Trouble first broke out in Epping two weeks ago after Ethiopian asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in the town by attempting to kiss her. He denies the charges.
The protest started peacefully, but descended into frenzied violence when anti-migrant demonstrators clashed with counter protesters and police.
Essex Police has faced major questions after footage emerged of officers escorting pro-migrant activists to the hotel – despite the force initially denying this has happened.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted footage allegedly showing pro-migrant protesters being ‘bussed’ to the demonstration in police vans but Essex Police said this was ‘categorically’ untrue.
However, after footage emerged of cops leading pro-migrant activists to the hotel by foot, Essex police admitted its officers had escorted the protesters.
Farage had called for Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington to quit, saying it was ‘absolutely disgraceful’ and ‘heads must roll’.
But Chief Constable Harrington rejected claims his officers had given a higher level of protection to pro-migrant protesters.
He said: ‘The only protection that officers are doing is to those lawful and law-abiding people, whether they are in that accommodation, whether they are the people of Epping or whether they are people who are standing there with placards and banners wishing to make a very important and legitimate view, whichever your views about it.
‘Where officers have intervened that is because there has been disorder…We are not being partial in any way, shape or form.’
When asked if he would resign, he said: ‘No, I am not going to do that. This is not about me, this is about the communities of Essex… the issue is not about my resignation.’
He said Essex Police made 10 arrests, adding: ‘What has been unacceptable has been the people who have come to Epping and committed violence, who have attacked people who work at the hotel, who have attacked officers, who have damaged property and who have caused fear and disruption to the people of Epping.
‘That is not tolerable, it will not be tolerated, and to that end, we have made 10 arrests.’
In a warning to Farage and other politicians about their online posts, he added: ‘It is not the police’s job to clamp down on elected politicians… All I am asking is that people are responsible about what they say and they consider the real world consequences.’
MPs and council leaders have raised fears that Britain could be heading for another ‘summer of riots’ – in a repeat of the street violence that followed the Southport murders last year.
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner warned that anger at high levels of illegal immigration is risking social cohesion in Britain’s poorest communities and must be addressed.
Her comments came after Sir Keir Starmer was warned by Epping Forest Council Leader Christ Whitbread that the UK is a ‘powder keg’ that could explode.
Newly appointed shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly criticised the Prime Minister for a ‘disconnect from reality’ when it comes to housing asylum seekers.
