Police officer 'punched' and child 'may have been pepper-sprayed' at anti-asylum march in London
A police officer was "punched in the face" by masked anti-asylum protesters at a march in Canary Wharf on Sunday.
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Police said masked protesters became "aggressive" during a march outside a London hotel yesterday.
It comes as demonstrators on both sides of the divide over the UK’s migration policies gathered outside the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf.
Taking to social media, the Metropolitan Police said: "We have made four arrests for common assault, possession of drugs and assault on police/public order offences.
"One of our officers was punched in the face - luckily they have not suffered significant injury."
Videos shared online appeared to show children with the masked protesters.
The Met said: "We are aware there are young children in the protest area and while we deal with any criminality our officers are ensuring the safety of them is paramount."
Following claims a child was pepper-sprayed during the incident, the force added: "Officers witnessed an assault by a protester on a member of the public inside Canary Wharf shopping centre.
"The suspect was immediately arrested by officers who used PAVA spray.
"We are aware other protesters and members of the public, including a child, may have been temporarily affected by the use of PAVA given the density of the crowds in the area."
Extra officers have been deployed to deal with the disorder.
Demonstrators carrying Union flags and placards assembled outside the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf on Sunday afternoon.
Around 100 counter-protesters held banners bearing the words “stand up to racism” and “stop the far right”.
The group chanted “say it loud and say it clear, refugees are welcome here”.
Around a dozen anti-immigration demonstrators stood across the road.
The Britannia became subject to protests after false reports spread that asylum seekers from the Bell Hotel in Epping would be moved there.
In Epping, three people were arrested on Sunday after the latest protest against the Bell Hotel being used to house asylum seekers.
Two men and one women were detained by Essex Police after the demonstration on Sunday evening.
A woman was arrested on suspicion of breaching a Section 14 order which was put in place by police on Sunday evening.
The order set out specific areas where the protest could take place.
Essex Police said her arrest was “categorically not for flying the Union flag” as some people had suggested.
One man was arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred after an emblem was reported to have been set alight.
This relates to an alleged incident on Friday.A second man was arrested for breaching the Section 14 order after refusing to leave when the assembly had concluded, police said.All three remain in custody.
It comes after five people were arrested after a group of protesters, including masked men, tried to enter a hotel in London, believed to be housing asylum seekers, on Saturday.
The men were part of two anti-asylum protest groups that marched to the Crowne Plaza near Heathrow Airport.
They attempted to enter the building through the rear entrance and damaged security fences, the Metropolitan Police said.
Other protesters moved towards the nearby Novotel on Cherry Lane and a Holiday Inn, while officers enforced cordons in the area to prevent a breach of the peace.
Two officers suffered minor injuries and five arrests were made, the force added. It is unclear if any of the masked men were arrested.