Police 'stretched' during Bristol protests at hotel

Officers were "stretched" when far-right protestors attempted to target a hotel thought to be housing asylum seekers, Bristol's police and crime commissioner said.

The group, and a counter-protest group, gathered to demonstrate in Castle Park on Saturday, before they moved to the Mercure Hotel.

Seventeen people have been arrested and two men have been charged for public order offences.

Clare Moody, Avon and Somerset police and crime commissioner, said: "The police were stretched across a lot of the city. There are lessons that need to be learned."

Redcliffe Way was blocked by riot vans

During the protest outside Mercure Hotel on Redcliffe Hill, guests were seen looking out of their windows.

Speaking to Joe Sims on BBC Radio Bristol, Ms Moody said she expected more arrests - confirmed by Det Ch Con Reilly who said on Monday evening that the "arrest of those responsible will continue over the coming days".

She said: "There was a lot of action going on across the city. The police were stretched across a lot of the city.

Protesters linked arms and formed a wall outside the hotel

"There are lessons that need to be learned, but I'm pleased Bristol was a city of sanctuary and we saw the people of Bristol stand to protect those in the hotel.

"I'm very pleased we didn't see the same scenes we've seen elsewhere."

She said the scenes around England on Saturday, that included windows being smashed, are "genuinely shocking".

"There was no legitimate reason that can justify what happened," she said.

Demonstrators moved to the Mercure Hotel after leaving Castle Park - while those inside watched on

"They were out to cause trouble, violent and it was unacceptable and was, I'm glad to say, prevented from doing further harm."

She added there is "no excuse for the criminal behaviour we saw".

"There's a world of difference between legitimate protest that's about political debate, and we've seen Bristol have protests on its streets for generations, but that's not the same as what we saw.

"In a calm, reflective way we can have those political conversations. That's no excuse for the criminal behaviour we saw."

Tensions have been high across England after the killing of three young girls in Southport, Merseyside, on 29 July.

Joe Wagstaff was on a night out in the city centre when the disorder unfolded

Joe Wagstaff was on a night out with friends at Pasture, a restaurant near the hotel, when he said some of the crowd threw "plates, glasses and bottles".

He helped rescue a dog from on an outdoor table with its owner, Philippa Swatton.

He told the BBC he saw "lots of guys in balaclavas chanting some really dreadful things on their way to the hotel".

“The staff inside were trying to bring everyone in and clearing everything off the tables. They descended on us so quickly," he said.

“As this was happening they [the protestors] were throwing plates, glasses and bottles.

"There were five or 10 different guys grabbing anything they could and throwing them at us, the building and at cars.

“I think they were just out for violence.

“I was shocked at the violence of it all. I respect everyone’s right to protest and it should always be done peacefully."

Patrick Krasniqi said bookings at his restaurant cancelled because of the disorder

Patrick Krasniqi, who runs Italian restaurant Bella Vista on Bristol Bridge, said he is "around £4,000 down" due to cancellations.

He said: "It [the protests] happened at the peak time for us. All the bookings we had were calling in to say they couldn’t make it.

"Our Saturday ended at 19:30 BST because no one turned up. It did have a massive impact on the trade."

He added: “The scenes were not pleasant to watch. We had a restaurant full, everybody was frightened.

"Rocks were thrown at police - a lot of shouting went on."