Residents of the Bell hotel in Epping face an uncertain future after a court ruled the building cannot house asylum seekers because of a planning breach. Weeks of violent protests erupted after a resident was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old, leading to far-right activity outside the hotel. Protesters locked asylum seekers in their rooms, hurled insults and threw cans, and drivers honked, waved flags and shouted threats in apparent celebration of the eviction ruling. One resident reports neighbours shielding their children and being treated as criminals. One resident arrived earlier this year by small boat after paying people smugglers.
People call you scumbags sometimes and they throw cans of soda at you. He adds: I wasn't expecting this in England. I thought it would be friendlier. Mohamed says local attitudes changed sharply after the charge against the resident. Now we're seen as criminals. Before that we were just normal people, he said. He claims one woman shielded her children behind her when she saw Mohamed on the street.
On the road outside the hotel on Wednesday many drivers sounded their horns in apparent celebration at the court's decision. One unfurled a union jack from a black Audi as he passed. The driver of one van leaned out the window to shout: Shoot the lot of 'em. The driver of a meat company van shouted: Goodbye, goodbye and We pay our taxes.
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