// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
The legacy of Epping's asylum protests a year on: 'It's still discussed in shops, pubs and cafes'
Protests were staged for months in Epping after asylum seeker Hadush Kebatu was arrested for sexual offences
When Anita bought her house in the upmarket town of Epping, she dreamed of a happy retirement enjoying the nature surrounding her.
What she did not bargain for was her Essex home becoming a battleground of anti-asylum seeker protests and counter-demonstrations in July 2025.
It followed the arrest of Ethiopian migrant Hadush Kebatu, who was living at The Bell Hotel in the town when he sexually assaulted a schoolgirl and a woman.
Most protests that followed were peaceful - and protesters argue they were a force for good. However, some descended into chaos and six people have been jailed for violent disorder so far.
At one point, Epping Forest District Council considered evacuating nearby houses due to the chaos.
The case sparked a wider conversation about the effect of housing asylum seekers in hotels in British communities.
"Overnight, our local social media platforms went from people seeking lost cats to the most vitriolic, horrible things," recalls Anita.
Like others in this story, she does not want her full name used for fear of being targeted.
Heavy police presence was required in Epping throughout summer 2025