Crowd Tries to Storm Asylum House in Thetford Unrest
A crowd tried to force its way into a house believed to be housing asylum seekers during a third night of disorder in Thetford, Norfolk, and a police officer was bitten, with a woman arrested on suspicion of the assault. Around six people have now been arrested over three nights, and asylum seekers were again moved to safety. Norfolk Police said they had deployed significant resources and expected further arrests.
The trouble, echoing the anti-migrant riots that spread across England last summer, has become the most serious test yet of the government’s ability to keep order around asylum accommodation. Police have warned that agitators are exploiting local grievances and misinformation, endangering officers and vulnerable residents alike. Ministers have condemned the violence as criminal thuggery and promised swift prosecutions. The unrest unfolds amid a fevered national argument over immigration. Watch whether the disorder is contained or spreads to other towns over the weekend.