Police have erected a "ring of steel" around the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf, as fresh protests erupted over its planned use to house asylum seekers, with pro-migrant demonstrators shouting "Nazi scum off our streets". Metal fencing, CCTV cameras and riot vans were deployed on Thursday amid growing tensions, fuelled by false claims that migrants from Epping's Bell Hotel would be relocated there.
Daily Express reporter Lotti O'Brien, who is on the scene, said: "We're currently outside the Britannia International Hotel, which is reportedly set to house migrants. This is yet another day of protest where people have taken to the streets. Stand Up to Racism protesters are already here to counter the anti-immigration protest, which is set to take place. It's only just started, and you can already hear them shouting 'fascist scum off our streets', 'Nazi scum in the water', but there's a real strong police presence. We'll wait and see what happens."
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