A market town in Norfolk, England, was engulfed in violence and disorder after mobs stormed three houses based on rumors of asylum seekers being housed there. The unrest in Thetford followed weeks of protests at a nearby former military barracks, RAF Barnham, which has been earmarked to house 1,250 male migrants.
On Tuesday evening, chaos erupted as groups converged on residential streets. At one property on St. Johns Way, police escorted five men from the residence amid shouts of "get out" from protesters, who accused officers of being "traitors." Video captured one man in the crowd expressing fears of demographic change, stating, "They don’t want the white man anymore. They want us all gone, they wanna swap us." Another protester could be heard shouting, "It’s predicted by 2050 that the f****** white man’s going to be a minority."
Police arrived at the St. Johns Way property shortly after 8 p.m. Drones were deployed as the group, estimated at up to 100 people, attempted to force entry, smashing a window, damaging a fence panel, and ripping out a letterbox. A tradesman working at the property was also reportedly prevented from leaving. An officer addressed the crowd, reminding them of their right to peaceful protest.
By 10 p.m., authorities decided to remove the five men from the St. Johns Way house. They were escorted by ten officers into a waiting police van amidst continued booing and shouts from the crowd.
The unrest then moved to a second location on Bracken Road, where windows of a house, understood to be undergoing preparations for asylum seekers, were smashed. Police dispersed the group.
A third incident occurred on Elm Road, where a smaller group reportedly forced out the occupant of a house and stole their mobile phone.
Norfolk Police stated that they arrested a man in his 30s on suspicion of a public order offense and that investigations into the "linked" incidents are ongoing. Police have maintained a heightened presence in the area following the violence.
Thetford is located approximately three miles from RAF Barnham in Suffolk, one of several sites the government is considering to house asylum seekers. Government plans also include using former military bases in Bicester, Oxfordshire, and RAF Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire, as well as extending the use of existing military sites in Crowborough, East Sussex, and Wethersfield, Essex. Locals in areas near these sites have expressed concerns about the potential impact on infrastructure and community services.
Protests have been ongoing for months outside RAF Barnham, with demonstrators expressing opposition to the housing of asylum seekers. Placards reading "Thetford says no!" and "Don't trust Home Office - it's all lies" have been displayed at these gatherings. One resident, speaking last month, voiced concerns about lone male migrants, citing worries about potential crime.
One individual present at the Thetford protests on Tuesday is understood to be an activist who had been staying at RAF Barnham. The source notes there is no suggestion of his involvement in any illegal activity.