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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Ross Hunter

Far-right rioters set fire to hotel hosting asylum seekers in Rotherham

FAR-RIGHT rioters have set fire to hotel in Rotherham which is being used to house asylum seekers.

A large group of people draped in Union flags with some wearing balaclavas smashed the windows of a Holiday Express hotel in Manvers, South Yorkshire before setting the building on fire.

Police clashed with the group after bricks were thrown at the building as guests peered down from top floor windows.

Photographs show police officers in riot gear attempting to stop groups of men entering the building.

However, footage posted on social appears to show that some of the men were able to enter the hotel. 

It's believed the fire started after a wheelie bin was set on fire and thrown through the window of the hotel. 

The Labour MP for Rotherham, Sarah Champion, described the behaviour as "criminal disorder". 

She said: “I’m extremely concern at the escalating violence we are seeing at Holiday Inn, Manvers.

“The people causing damage and attacking police do not represent our town and I am disgusted by their actions.

This is criminal disorder and intimidation - not protest.”

It comes after dozens of people were arrested following riots across numerous cities in England enflamed by disinformation spread by far-right agitators such as Tommy Robinson on social media.

Indeed, Robinson attempted to increase tensions in the Scottish city of Stirling after a woman was stabbed by a man on Saturday.

Police in riot gear face off with a far-right mob outside a Holiday Express being used to house migrantsPolice in riot gear face off with a far-right mob outside a Holiday Express being used to house asylum seekers (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire.)

Robinson claimed the attacker was an “alleged Muslim” before Police Scotland issued a statement confirming they had arrested a white man who was local to the area.

John Swinney has since hit out at “unhelpful speculation” on the isolated incident, which police say poses no further threat to the public.

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