At least three men have been arrested and two police officers injured.
The scene in Thetford (Image: PA)
A UK town has been plunged into chaos as a violent mob of up to 100 people stormed houses they believed were home to asylum seekers.
Five men believed to be asylum seekers were rescued from a property in Thetford, Norfolk, by police in front of a baying crowd on Tuesday night. Video posted on social media appeared to show five men being escorted from houses by police as an angry crowd booed and shouted “get out”.
The unrest followed fears properties were being used to house asylum seekers (Image: Eastern Daily Press/SWNS)
A man on another road was allegedly forced out of his home before having his phone stolen while a door and window were smashed at a third property, the Eastern Daily Press reports.
The same publication reports that the unrest was sparked after a group of men were seen being moved into a house on Tuesday afternoon, and the crowd included up to 100 people.
Rumours spread on social media that asylum seekers were being housed in the area led to a crowd gathering at the estate by 7pm on the same day.
Norfolk Police said officers were called to St John’s Way, Thetford, at 8.12pm on Tuesday after reports that a group of people, who did not live at the address, were “attempting to get inside and smashed a window, and damaged a fence panel and letter box”.
The force added: “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.”
Local MP Terry Jermy said it would have been utterly terrifying for the people inside the houses (Image: Eastern Daily Press/SWNS)
Officers attended a second address in Bracken Road where some of the group believed to be present at the previous incidents smashed the windows of a property.
Police said a third incident happened in 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 on suspicion of a public order offence, according to the police. He has since been released and issued with a conditional caution.
Norfolk Police said significant resources were deployed to the town on Wednesday night to maintain public safety after a large group of people gathered in Clover Way.
The force said officers responded to reports at about 9.30pm that people were trying to get into a property and as police moved in some became physically aggressive.
Two officers were taken to hospital after a policeman was struck with a rock and a policewoman was seriously bitten, breaking the skin. A third officer was also spat at, according to police.
It came after a large crowd gathered outside the local police station for an anti-immigration protest, which police said was “largely peaceful”.
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. The second man, aged in his 60s has since been charged.
Brian Thompson, 68, of Fairfields, Thetford, has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon – a wooden bat. He has been released on bail and is due to appear at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on August 25.
Terry Jermy, MP for South West Norfolk, said the “ugly scenes” were “difficult to watch and are deeply concerning”.
In a statement, the Labour politician added: “People have been pulled from their homes – a place of safety – and forcibly removed, with reports of members of the public breaking into homes, taking property and smashing windows.
“This would have been utterly terrifying for the people in these properties and also very worrying for neighbouring residents… I utterly condemn this behaviour and I know many Thetford residents share my disgust and concern.
“Following these incidents, many local residents from diverse backgrounds have been in touch with my office sharing fears for their safety.
“I do not know the immigration status of the people placed in these properties or their legal status, but I know they are human beings that must be afforded the same rights that we all expect in this country.
“Whatever our own individual views on immigration – mob rule and vigilantism is not acceptable.”
In June, Mr Jermy called on the Home Office to end “secrecy and confusion” around plans to house more asylum seekers in former military barracks – including at RAF Barnham near Thetford.
Mr Jermy, whose South West Norfolk constituency abuts RAF Barnham, said he had “made clear my strong objections to the use of MOD Barnham to accommodate asylum seekers”.
In his statement on the disorder, he added: “I am concerned that these latest incidents weaken our legitimate concerns about the Home Office’s proposals and further divert local police resources away from dealing with other local policing priorities.”