Police arrest five after anti-immigration disorder

Police in Thetford, Norfolk, have made multiple arrests following three consecutive nights of disorder involving anti-immigration protests and attempts to storm properties believed to house asylum seekers. The unrest, which began on Tuesday, August 4, culminated in significant violence against officers on Wednesday night, leading to enhanced police powers and a total of five arrests by Thursday, August 6.

The most serious clashes occurred on the evening of Wednesday, August 5, on Clover Way. Police responded to reports that a large crowd was attempting to gain access to a residential property. According to Norfolk Police, members of the group became physically aggressive, resulting in two officers being taken to hospital. One male officer was struck with a rock and a female officer was seriously bitten, breaking the skin. A third officer was spat at. The scene was described by police as fast-moving and volatile.

This followed incidents on Tuesday night, when properties on St Johns Way, Bracken Road, and Elm Road were targeted. Windows were smashed, fences broken, and people attempted to force entry into homes. In one instance on Elm Road, a smaller group entered a property,...