Police vehicles torched and officers injured in far-right protest outside hotel housing asylum seekers. Protesters surrounded a hotel in Merseyside housing asylum seekers, shouting “get them out” as police vehicles were set on fire and officers injured, a court has heard. A video on social media purporting to show a male asylum seeker asking a 15-year-old local girl for a kiss had created “ill feeling” in Kirkby, Knowsley, in the run-up to the demonstration on 10 February last year, Liverpool crown court heard on Tuesday. Police investigated the incident but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided there was not enough evidence to charge the man with a criminal offence, the jury was told. The far-right group English Defence League (EDL) called a protest outside the Suites Hotel, where the asylum seeker had been staying, the prosecution said. Merseyside police were tipped off about the planned protest the day before, and was told there was also going to be a counter-protest from leftwing demonstrators, the detective in charge of the investigation said. Five men and three women, all from Merseyside, have gone on trial accused of violent disorder in what the prosecutor, Martyn Walsh, called “very clearly and obviously a serious incident of public disorder”. Each admits being at the scene but denies “using or threatening unlawful violence”, said Walsh.
via guardian: Protesters shouted ‘get them out’ at Merseyside asylum seeker hotel, court told
siehe auch: Crowd goaded Knowsley hotel residents in disorder, jury told. Crowds shouted “get them out” outside a hotel housing asylum seekers, a trial of eight people accused of violent disorder has heard. Violence broke out outside the Suites Hotel in Knowsley, which was providing temporary accommodation for asylum seekers, on 10 February last year. A large group had gathered and rocks and fireworks were thrown at police, Liverpool Crown Court heard. All eight defendants admit being at the protest but deny violent disorder. Det Con David Williams told the jury members of a right-wing and a left-wing group attended outside the hotel, which was providing temporary accommodation for asylum seekers, and at about 19:00 GMT a large group of people arrived at the scene on foot. He said: “At that time it seemed that tensions changed somewhat.” Three police officers were injured as items including rocks, fireworks and paving slabs were thrown, with one needing hospital treatment, the court heard.