Thetford braces for 3rd night of disorder with heavy cop presence after protesters ‘tried to break into migrant homes’

A MARKET town is bracing for further violence following two nights of chaos which saw a mob try to break into homes allegedly housing asylum seekers. Some forty cops have descended on Thetford and been granted a dispersal order after a female police officer was reportedly bitten last night. Police make arrests in Thetford on the third night of protests over asylum seekers being housed in the area Credit: SWNS The Norfolk town of Thetford was plunged into a night of violence and disorder yesterday Credit: SWNS The officers are permitted to detain or remove anyone who is believed to be there to protest. At least one man has been arrested so far this evening bringing the total to three in the last few days. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Last night five men, believed to be asylum seekers, were evacuated from homes by the police after a baying mob stormed the properties. The crowd, believed to be up to 100 people, were seen shouting and attempting to gain access to the homes in St John’s Way, Thetford in Norfolk. The officers are standing outside one of the homes thought to be housing asylum seekers Credit: SWNS Homes were pelted with eggs last night amid the chaos Credit: SWNS Norfolk Police said a group of between 30 and 50 people – none of who lived at the address – attempted to force entry to a property smashing a window, a fence panel and a letterbox. This evening, six officers remain outside the three-storey, end-of-terrace property. Pictures show officers grouped at Chester Way, mingling with residents, wearing high-viz jackets but with riot helmets on their hips. Around one hundred local residents, mostly children and teenagers can be seen riding bikes, milled around outside their 1960s, terraced homes but the scene shows no sign of disorder. Most read in The Sun It follows Norfolk Constabulary officers being injured in chaotic and ugly scenes on Wednesday night. Homes were pelted with eggs and locals looked on as police officers pinned people to the ground and led them away. As officers arrived on the scene and tried to intervene, a male cop is reported to have been hit with a rock. A female officer was also injured when she was “seriously bitten”, breaking the skin, police said. Crowds of up to 100 people stormed three properties Credit: SWNS Crowds began building in St John’s Way on Tuesday Credit: SWNS Both officers have been taken to hospital to receive treatment for their wounds with cops adding that a third officer was allegedly spat at. Two men were arrested on suspicion of public order offences, harassment and possession of an offensive weapon. A man in his 40s remains in custody while 68-year-old Brian Thompson has subsequently been charged with possession of an offensive weapon. Crowds began building in St John’s Way on Tuesday after word spread that a group of asylum seekers had been moved into one of the homes. The force has also claimed the group stopped a workman from leaving the property – however, the mob dispute this claim and instead say they tried to help him. Elsewhere in town, police say a smaller group removed a resident from his home and stole his mobile phone. A man in his 30s was arrested after the first night of riots, but police say he has since been released and issued with a conditional caution.