Arrests after 'mob-type' protest at asylum hotel

Police says enquiries are continuing following the incident outside the hotel

Two people have been arrested after objects were hurled outside an Aldershot hotel used to house asylum seekers.

Police said a minority of around 200 people at the protest outside the Potters International Hotel were involved in disruption on Wednesday evening.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said it had now arrested a 32-year-old man from Farnborough and a 60-year-old man from Farnham in connection with the incident.

The protest followed similar gatherings across England - some of them violent - following the killing of three young girls in Southport on Monday.

The demonstration in Aldershot descended into a "mob-type" protest, according to Hampshire police and crime commissioner (PCC) Donna Jones.

Alex Baker, Labour MP for Aldershot, said the situation had been "exacerbated" by people from outside the community.

Police are still looking to identify five people in connection with the incident

At around 18.45 BST, police said people started throwing objects and subjecting people to racial abuse.

One police officer suffered a minor injury.

Police said the two suspects have been arrested on suspicion of affray and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to stir up racial hatred.

They remain in custody while enquiries continue.

Police have also released a fresh appeal for help in identifying five people connected to the unrest.

The force has not directly linked the disruption in Aldershot to the Southport attack.

The incident happened at the Potter's International Hotel on Wednesday

"There is no justification for disorderly behaviour and these scenes do not represent Aldershot and Farnborough," Ms Baker posted on X.

"We all support our shared right to peacefully protest, but we will not stand for people coming to our towns determined to stir up trouble and divide our community."

The protest was one in an ongoing spate of unrest following the killing of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport.

Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, 17, appeared in court on Thursday charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder, after eight other children and two adults were seriously injured.