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Four arrests made during Epsom rape protest
TL;DR
Four arrests were made during a protest in Epsom, Surrey, where eggs and beer cans were thrown amid a police investigation into a reported rape. The protest escalated to public disorder, with claims about asylum seekers being targeted as inaccurate.
Key points
- Four arrests made during Epsom protest
- Protest escalated to public disorder
- Reported rape investigation ongoing
- Claims about asylum seekers were inaccurate
- Police deployed 30 officers with riot shields
Four people have been arrested after eggs and beer cans were thrown during a protest in a Surrey town where police are investigating a reported rape.
The demonstration in Epsom "escalated to public disorder" and involved "missiles being thrown", Surrey Police said.
A woman in her 20s was reportedly followed after leaving a nightclub in the early hours of 11 April and attacked outside Epsom Methodist Church, with police later saying there was no evidence immigrants or asylum seekers had been involved.
About 30 officers with riot shields appeared to be protecting a property during a live stream of the protest.
Surrey Police said it began at 17:00 BST outside the train station, before individuals "targeted local hotels and residential properties with claims they were housing people seeking asylum" which it said was "wholly inaccurate information".
Prior to this, the live stream showed a woman who was representing the protesters as she read out a statement.
She said it was not about "apportioning blame or fuelling anger, but about establishing the truth".
She said "it feels as though key details are missing", adding residents felt "scared and unsafe".
Late on Monday, Surrey Police said the four arrested people remained in custody on suspicion of offences including criminal damage and assaulting an emergency worker.
A spokesperson added: "We will continue to review footage to identify those responsible for any further criminal offences and take appropriate action".
The force said investigations into the reported incident were ongoing.
It said officers had reviewed an extensive amount of CCTV footage, carried out forensic investigations and conducted house-to-house enquiries.
"To date, we have not found any evidence that the offence took place as reported," it said.
"We will continue to work with those seeking to protest, along with our partners and the local community, to ensure everyone's views can be heard."
Monday's protest follows a demonstration on Wednesday, when objects were also thrown amid angry scenes.
Q&A
What led to the arrests during the Epsom protest?
The arrests occurred after protesters threw eggs and beer cans during a demonstration related to a reported rape investigation.
What incident triggered the protest in Epsom?
The protest was triggered by a reported rape of a woman in her 20s, who was attacked after leaving a nightclub on April 11.
How did the police respond to the Epsom protest?
Surrey Police deployed about 30 officers with riot shields to manage the situation and protect properties targeted by protesters.
