Masked group clashes with rivals outside asylum hotel

Rival protest groups clashed outside a London asylum hotel as police issued an urgent arrest warning.

- ALEXANDER BUTLER

Several demonstrators were detained by officers yesterday, after confrontations with rival groups at a protest against the use of the Thistle City Barbican Hotel in Islington, north London, to accommodate asylum seekers.

People believed to be migrants watched the protests from the hotel's windows, with some waving and blowing kisses as demonstrators chanted and banged drums in the street below. A man wearing an England football shirt was detained by police after a confrontation with officers.

A large group of masked protesters dressed in black, chanting “we are antifascist”, appeared from a side street and marched towards the rival group outside the hotel. There were brief clashes before officers pushed into the crowd to detain several people, dragging them out by their arms and legs.

The Metropolitan Police said the protest against the use of the Islington hotel was organised by residents under the banner “Thistle Barbican needs to go - locals say no”.