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  "path": "/news/epping-bell-hotel-essex-migrant-crisis-residents-removed",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-11T16:05:25.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Labour warned of migrant crisis on Britain's streets amid fears of asylum homelessness explosion",
    "Two migrants jailed in first convictions under landmark small boat crossings law",
    "Belfast attack triggers major new illegal migration crackdown in Northern Ireland",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nResidents staying at the Bell Hotel in Essex have been evacuated from the site, Epping Forest District Council has said.\n\nThe building was used by the Home Office to house asylum seekers, including small boat migrant Hadush Kebatu who was convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage girl and another woman in separate incidents.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe 41-year-old sex offender's conviction triggered a wave of furious protests outside the taxpayer-funded accommodation used to house migrants last summer.\n\nToday, a spokesman for the council confirmed only security staff remained on site while it sought further clarification from the Home Office.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nShabana Mahmood's department confirmed residents were evacuated, citing fire safety concerns.\n\nThe Government spokesman added that it was a precautionary measure and reiterated that it took the safety of service users and staff seriously.\n\nAn Epping council spokesman said, although they had \"ongoing engagement\" with Whitehall, they were unaware \"in advance that this was going to happen\".\n\n\nThey added: \"We are seeking clarification from the Home Office on the details of what has happened and what their next steps will be.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nLast year, Kebatu, who was one of the migrants housed in the Essex accommodation, was charged and convicted of sexually assaulting the teenager.\n\nKebatu was found guilty of a total of five offences and subsequently jailed.\n\nThe Ethiopian migrant was then released in error from HMP Chelmsford last October, sparking a nationwide manhunt for several days before he was re-arrested in Finsbury Park in north London.\n\nIn a statement about the evacuation, Epping Forest District Council said: \"Despite ongoing engagement with the Home Office, we did not know in advance that this was going to happen.\n\n### BRITAIN'S BORDERS CRISIS - READ MORE:\n\n\n\n\n  * Labour warned of migrant crisis on Britain's streets amid fears of asylum homelessness explosion\n  * Two migrants jailed in first convictions under landmark small boat crossings law\n  * Belfast attack triggers major new illegal migration crackdown in Northern Ireland\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n“We are seeking clarification from the Home Office on the details of what has happened and what their next steps will be.\"\n\nThe local MP has repeatedly requested the urgent closure of the Bell Hotel while Labour has persistently vowed to close every asylum hotel across the UK by 2029.\n\nEarlier this year, the Home Office boasted the closure of 11 hotels while ferrying hundreds of migrants to the Crowborough migrant camp.\n\nMP for Epping Forest Dr Neil Hudson met today with the Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris, to discuss the matter impacting the safety and cohesion of his local constituents.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nFollowing the discussion, Dr Hudson MP said: \"I am grateful to the Minister for meeting with me again, and for the opportunity to reiterate the concerns of both myself and the Epping Forest community.\n\n\"I made clear once more that the Government must listen and bring the use of the Bell Hotel for asylum accommodation to an end without delay.\"\n\nRefusing to comment on The Bell Hotel, the Home Office said: \"The Government is removing the incentives drawing illegal migrants to Britain. We are closing every asylum hotel and moving asylum seekers into basic accommodation including ex-military sites.\n\n\"The population of asylum seekers in hotels has fallen by 35 per cent in the last year and by 63 per cent from the peak under the previous government.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Epping asylum hotel evacuated as all residents removed amid 'safety concerns'"
}