Crowd and social media users 'complicit' in riots

South Yorkshire Police said 10 officers were injured with one left unconscious

South Yorkshire Police have confirmed that 10 of their officers were injured after rioters forced their way into a hotel housing asylum seekers.

In a full statement on the incident at the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham over the weekend, the force condemed "deplorable acts of violence" that left one officer unconscious and others with broken bones.

A heavy police presence will remain at the hotel on Monday following the anti-immigration demonstration.

Assistant Chief Constable Lindsey Butterfield said that members of the crowd who watched the disorder were "absolutely complicit" in it.

Wood, glass bottles and beer cans were thrown at officers

ACC Butterfield also criticised people who had used social media to "spread misinformation and hate" ahead of the planned protest.

She said: “Those people also need to take responsibility for the scenes we saw. This was not a protest, just angry people, reacting to a false narrative, shared by people who have their own motivations for doing so.”

South Yorkshire Police estimated that 700 people were in attendance. The Holiday Inn's windows were smashed and missiles including wood, glass bottles and beer cans were thrown at officers.

Police were also sprayed with fire extinguishers. One officer suffered a head injury and another a suspected fractured elbow.

One person has been arrested, but the force said officers would be reviewing images and videos shared online to track down more offenders.

ACC Butterfield added: “Please be assured, our work does not end on Sunday - we have officers working hard, reviewing the considerable online imagery and footage of those involved, and they should expect us to be at their doors very soon.”

During the violence, a large bin close to a window of the hotel was set alight. A generator was also set on fire, and a number of small grass fires were lit. They were all extinguished by South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

No hotel employees or residents were reported to be injured.

The demonstration by anti-immigration protesters was held outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham

ACC Butterfield added: “Today in Rotherham we have seen our officers attacked and at least 10 injured, significant damage caused and a fire set outside a hotel full of terrified residents and staff. The mindless actions of those today have achieved nothing other than sheer destruction and leaving members of the public and the wider community in fear.

“Operational police officers will now be away from active duty while they recover from their injuries, and public money has to be used to clean up the mess the demonstrators have left behind.”

Reinforcements from the North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Durham and Leicestershire forces were sent to the scene.

Police are urging anyone who has information on the identities of the rioters to make a report by phone or online.

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