Two men were arrested following two nights of disorder in Thetford, Norfolk, after people allegedly attempted to storm homes linked to asylum seekers.
Police powers were bolstered on Thursday evening in the aftermath of the earlier disorder earlier in the week (Image: © 2026 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)
Arrests have been made in Thetford after people allegedly attempted to storm properties linked to asylum seekers and police officers were reportedly assaulted.
Two men were arrested on Thursday, Norfolk Police confirmed, following two nights of unrest in the market town.
One was arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred in connection with events on Wednesday. The other faced suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and failing to provide his details to officers when requested.
Police powers were bolstered on Thursday evening in the aftermath of the earlier disorder earlier in the week.
This followed officers being “subjected to significant aggression” on Wednesday, with one struck by a rock, one bitten and another spat at.
Two officers were taken to hospital after responding to the incident at Clover Way that evening, which police described as “fast-moving and volatile” with tensions escalating as a crowd advanced towards a residential property.
On Tuesday night, windows were smashed, fences broken and attempts were made to force entry into a residential property, police confirmed.
The protesters’ efforts to gain access to the homes were fuelled by concerns that the properties were being utilised to house asylum seekers.
Video footage circulating on social media appeared to show police escorting a number of asylum seekers away from properties in the area.
Witnesses and online commentators had voiced criticism of the police response, with reports emerging that a woman in a mobility scooter was pepper-sprayed on Wednesday. The force defended their actions as proportionate and appropriate, including the deployment of Pava spray.
It stated that Pava, a handheld incapacitating substance similar to pepper spray, was deployed in response to an individual’s behaviour within the crowd.
A police spokeswoman added: “We understand that concerns have been raised about a woman using a mobility scooter who was affected during the incident.
A village sign following disorder in the village of Thetford in Norfolk. Two men have been arrested after police officers were taken to hospital during a second night of disorder in the market town which has seen anti-immigration protests. The arrests come after a crowd allegedly tried to invade homes thought to be housing asylum seekers and forced out residents while smashing windows. Picture date: Thursday August 6, 2026. (Image: © 2026 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)
“It was not the intention for any bystander to be impacted; however, where people remain within an area of active disorder and do not follow police instructions to move away, there is a risk they may be affected by tactics deployed to protect public safety.”
A resident of Clover Way, who requested anonymity, stated that at approximately 9.30pm on Wednesday “lots of young boys… came up on bikes and chucked eggs at the house”.
The predominantly seated demonstration began as “peaceful” until additional officers arrived and formed a line, she explained.
Then “it started to get a little bit rowdy” and “people took a step forward towards the police”.
Nobody attempted to enter the property, she said, noting that police “started pepper-spraying people”, including “a lady in a wheelchair”.
There were “a few young idiots picking up stones, lobbing them at a police car”.
“They brought a riot van down and blocked the front of the house,” she stated, adding that officers retrieved batons, conducted arrests and instructed people to disperse. Norfolk Police confirmed two arrests were made on Wednesday night for offences including public order, harassment and possession of an offensive weapon.
One man aged in his 40s remains in custody.
A Thetford man 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 25th August.
A man aged in his 30s, who was arrested on Wednesday following Tuesday’s incidents on suspicion of a public order offence, has since been released and issued with a conditional caution.