Police constable speaks of 'sickening moment' Rotherham hotel set alight as at least 12 officers injured
manchestereveningnews.co.ukA police constable has described the 'sickening moment' thugs attempted to set alight a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham in South Yorkshire.
Rioters smashed the windows of a Holiday Inn Express on Sunday before starting fires on the edge of the building. Masked men hurled lengths of wood, chairs and bottles, with some spraying fire extinguishers at police officers amid a crowd of around 700 people.
Assistant Chief Constable Lindsey Butterfield of South Yorkshire Police said officers had so far made five arrests, but the force expects the number to “increase significantly” in the coming days. READ MORE: Home Secretary tells riot 'thugs' to 'expect knock on door from police' READ MORE: ‘We’re living in fear’: As riots and protests bring havoc to UK, Manchester's religious leaders aren't surprised She branded the disorder “a disgusting display of thuggery” as she recalled the "sickening moment" rioters began to start a fire outside the building.
An initial group of 250 people had arrived on Sunday morning, with an additional 500 joining them shortly afterwards, she said.
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