Woman Armed with Meat Cleaver Protests Asylum Hotel in London

A woman armed with a meat cleaver attempted to force her way into a hotel housing asylum seekers following an incident at her mother’s home, a court has heard. Channay Augustus, 22, allegedly joined a group of around 20 individuals who tried to storm the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf, east London, on the evening of September 6, 2023.

The court proceedings at Thames Magistrates’ Court revealed that Augustus was incensed after discovering a migrant inside her blind mother’s flat, located a five-minute walk from the hotel. After finding the man, who is in his early 20s, she reportedly chased him away as he was “moving his hand” over his genital area. Following the confrontation, Augustus rushed to the hotel around 6 a.m. to confront those she believed were responsible.

Upon her arrival at the hotel, Augustus encountered a security guard who attempted to de-escalate the situation. After initially leaving the scene, she allegedly returned moments later brandishing a meat cleaver. According to witness accounts, she began banging the weapon against a metal barrier outside the hotel while shouting various expletives, including, “f****** asylum seekers.”

Augustus was arrested at her home later that day. During a court hearing, her lawyer indicated that she intends to deny charges of possession of an offensive weapon, affray, and assault on an emergency worker, while admitting to possession of cannabis.

The migrant who entered Augustus’s flat was also taken into custody on suspicion of common assault, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the Metropolitan Police. The police confirmed that he is now in their custody and is facing ongoing inquiries related to the incident.

Protests surrounding the Britannia Hotel have intensified in recent weeks, with both anti-migrant and pro-migrant groups gathering at the site. The demonstrations have led to several arrests, including one anti-migrant protester accused of throwing a bottle at officers and a counter-protester detained for failing to remove a face covering.

Augustus, a resident of Tower Hamlets, has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on September 12, 2023.