Violence in market town as mobs storm ‘houses with asylum seekers’

A market town has been engulfed by violence and disorder on two nights this week after angry residents stormed houses rumoured to be used by asylum seekers.

Frustration exploded into fury at three properties on Tuesday in Thetford, Norfolk, following weeks of protests at a nearby former military barracks which has already been earmarked to take 1,250 male migrants.

It continued last night, when two officers needed hospital treatment – one who was hit by a rock and another who was ‘seriously bitten’ during another protest. Three arrests have been made.

A Government spokesman said the ‘concerns of communities are central to our immigration reforms’.

The chaos on the first night saw five men having to be escorted by police from a property on St John’s Way, prompting the furious protesters to brand the officers ‘traitors’.

One local claimed the landlord had told them to expect new tenants but didn’t mention they would be asylum seekers.

The occupant of a house in nearby Elm Road is then understood to have been forced out of his home before his phone was stolen.

The disorder next spilled over to a residence in Bracken Road, which had its windows and front door smashed in.

Chaotic scenes unfolded in Thetford, Norfolk, as a crowd gathered after rumours spread on social media about asylum seekers being placed in houses

Police flooded the area and drones were launched as around 100 protesters swamped the market town

Two officers were injured last night – one hit by a rock, the other bitten

Doors and windows were smashed at properties as they called for the asylum seekers to ‘get out’

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Up to 100 people became involved in the violence, with video capturing one man shouting: ‘They don’t want the white man anymore. They want us all gone, they wanna swap us.

‘It’s predicted by 2050 that the f****** white man’s going to be a minority.’

Officers attended another residential property in Clover Way last night after a large group of people gathered there at about 9pm and tried to gain access.

As they intervened, members of the group became ‘physically aggressive’ towards them, with a male officer struck by a rock and a female officer ‘seriously bitten, breaking the skin’. A third officer was also spat at.

ᴀssistant Chief Constable Julie Dean, who is overseeing the police response to the disorder, said today: ‘We will always facilitate and support the right to peaceful protest, and we recognise that people may hold strong views and feelings about issues.

‘However, no matter how strongly those views are held, there is no place for violence, intimidation or criminal behaviour…

‘We will not stand by and allow violence to take place, whether that is directed towards members of the public, local residents or police officers carrying out their duties.

‘Where criminal offences are committed, we will take robust action.’

Police guard a property in the market town as protesters stand outside

Police had to escort the occupants of a property in St John’s Way after a tense stand-off 

EXCLUSIVE The villages fearing the arrival of thousands of male asylum seekers moved into ex-military bases

The turmoil began at around midday on Tuesday when a group of men were seen moving into the St John’s Way house.

News of the arrival spread swiftly on social media and by 7pm, people began arriving at the estate, with numbers quickly swelling to around 60.

Police arrived just after 8pm and drones were launched when the crowd, none of whom live in the road, tried to force their way in by smashing in a window and fence panel and ripping out the letter box. A tradesman in the building was also prevented from leaving.

Dramatic footage shows an officer standing in front of the property and telling the protesters: ‘You have the absolute right to stay here and gather and [exercise] your right to freedom of expression.

‘That is your choice, okay. But I need you to stay here and do that peacefully.

‘If we start getting people and they’re making threats, or getting knocks on the door [that’s] when we then come back and that ruins it for everyone.

‘So do the things right for you and don’t cross the line.’

A woman could be heard loudly accusing the police of ‘treason’ and others shouted ‘shame on you’ as they tried to restore calm.

A police officer addressed the mob at one address, warning them they had the right to ‘freedom of expression’ but they had to do it ‘peacefully’

The incident came after months of protests at RAF Barnham in Suffolk three miles away, where the government is planning to house 1,250 asylum seekers

Police attend a second night of protests, this time in Clover Way

Police have maintained a heightened presence in the area following the violence and disorder

By 10pm, the decision was taken to remove the five men in the property and ten officers surrounded them as they hurried outside and into a waiting police van, amid booing and shouts of ‘get out’.

Two of the terrified occupants wore tops with the hoods pulled тιԍнтly over their faces as they escaped.

In another scene, an individual who was off camera – leaving it uncertain whether they were a police officer or member of the public – shouted over the mayhem: ‘The police have got a job to do.

‘They’re going to remove the guys from the building. There will be no harm or loss or injury.’

The protesters then walked around a mile to the second location, where the house is understood to have been undergoing preparations for asylum seekers to take possession.

It was empty but the window and door were broken before police arrived and dispersed the group.

The last incident, half a mile away in Elm Road, involved a smaller group who are said to have ejected the occupant and taken his phone.

Norfolk Police arrested a man in his 30s the following day on suspicion of a public order offence in relation to the ‘linked’ incidents.

He has since been issued with a conditional caution and released.

Another large crowd gathered outside the town’s police station for an anti-immigration protest last night, which was described as ‘largely peaceful’.

But the force made two further arrests for offences including public order, harᴀssment and possession of an offensive weapon as unrest erupted again later on at Clover Way.

Brian Thompson, aged 68, who lives in Thetford, has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon, namely a wooden bat.

He has been released on bail and is due to appear at Norwich Magistrates Court on August 25.

Another man, in his 40s, remains in custody.

South West Norfolk MP Terry Jermy condemned the ‘mob rule and vigilantism’.

The Labour MP – who was chased by about 30 people after a Thetford Town Council meeting over the plans for RAF Barnham, said: ‘I utterly condemn this behaviour and I know many Thetford residents share my disgust and concern.

‘Whatever our own individual views on immigration – mob rule and vigilantism is not acceptable.

‘Following these incidents, many local residents from diverse backgrounds have been in touch with my office sharing their fears for safety.

RAF Barnham in Suffolk, which is just three miles from Thetford, has been earmarked by the government to take 1,250 asylum seekers

Protesters have been gathering outside the ex-military base for months

‘To be British is to respect the dignity of every individual, regardless of their background, race or religion.

‘It is our duty to uphold the British values of mutual respect and tolerance.’

Thetford is just three miles from RAF Barnham, over the border in Suffolk – one of three sites being considered to house a total of 3,750 asylum seekers, alongside former Ministry of Defence bases in Bicester in Oxfordshire and RAF Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire.

The government is also looking to extend the use of existing military sites in Crowborough, East SusSєx, until 2030 and Wethersfield, EsSєx until at least 2027.

Locals in Barnham, Suffolk, have warned they will be overwhelmed if the plans in their area are approved.

The village is home to 580 people and has a church but no shop or pub.

Hundreds of people from as far away as EsSєx have flocked to protests over the plans in recent months.

An encampment has been set up outside the gates with rotating protesters wielding placards reading ‘Thetford says no!’ and ‘Don’t trust Home Office – it’s all lies’.

A local man in his 50s, who didn’t want to give his name, told the Mail today: ‘We all know what’s been going on locally and people are not liking it.

‘People in Thetford are a bit fed up that we’re getting dumped with everybody that supposedly needs help.

‘The problem is we’ve got very poor infrastructure – it’s just about holding together.

‘Now they’re going to put another 2,000-3,000 asylum seekers on our doorstep. It’s not what people want.’

Barnham resident Kerri Williams, 51, who is from an RAF family, last month spoke of the grave concerns residents had about the scheme for lone, male migrants.

She said: ‘These are grown men with their iPhones and new trainers. If it was women with kids, it wouldn’t be so bad.

‘I would like to give them the benefit of the doubt but we just can’t. We’ve seen the amount of crime they bring.’

One of the protesters in Thetford on Tuesday is understood to have been activist Zak Marketis, who has been staying at RAF Barnham for weeks.

His brightly coloured caravan was seen parked in the area. There is no suggestion he was involved in any illegal activity.

The county’s recently-elected Reform UK police and crime commissioner, Colin Sutton, warned there was ‘no place’ for the violent conduct the town had witnessed.

‘Although I understand the concerns that residents have, and their right to protest peacefully, there is no place for the violence and damage we have seen in Thetford over the last couple of days,’ he said.

‘It is very concerning to me that individuals seemingly feel it’s appropriate to handle weapons, let alone attack and hurl objects, at police officers who were simply fulfilling their duties in protecting everyone from harm.

‘Those who resort to violence will be held to account in accordance with the law and I wish the officers who were seriously harmed whilst on duty a very speedy recovery.’

A Norfolk Police spokeswoman said: ‘Police were called to St John’s Way, Thetford, at 8.12pm [on Tuesday] following reports that a group of people, who didn’t live at the address, were attempting to get inside and smashed a window, and damaged a fence panel and letter box.

‘The group were shouting and preventing a workman from leaving. A resident of the same property reported a group of between 30 and 50 people trying to get into the house.

‘Officers attended a second address on Bracken Road where some of the group believed to be present at the previous incidents, smashed the windows of the property.

‘A third incident happened on Elm Road where a smaller group entered a property and forced out the resident and stole their mobile phone.

‘A man aged in his 30s was arrested [yesterday] on suspicion of a public order offence. He has been taken to Wymondham Police Investigation Centre for questioning, where he remains.

‘The investigation into the incidents, which are being linked, remains ongoing.’

A government spokesman said: ‘The concerns of communities are central to our immigration reforms.

‘That’s why we are working with local authorities and others to make the system fairer by housing asylum seekers in basic accommodation, including ex-military sites. Five military sites are either in use or being explored.

‘The population of asylum seekers in H๏τels has fallen by 35 per cent in the last year and by 63 per cent from the peak of 56,000 in 2023.

‘Overall asylum costs have already fallen by nearly £1billion since the general election.’