Woman Confronts Asylum Seekers with Meat Cleaver in London Protest

A woman armed with a meat cleaver attempted to force her way into a hotel housing asylum seekers in London, following an incident involving a migrant entering her mother’s home. The event unfolded at the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf on the evening of September 6, 2023.

According to testimony at Thames Magistrates’ Court, **Channay Augustus**, 22, was part of a group of approximately 20 individuals protesting outside the hotel when she allegedly confronted a migrant inside her blind mother’s flat, located just a five-minute walk away. After finding the man behaving inappropriately, Augustus reportedly chased him away and subsequently rushed to the hotel, where tensions escalated.

The court heard that Augustus confronted a security guard at the hotel, seeking to express her outrage. After initially leaving the scene, she returned with a meat cleaver, which she allegedly used to bang against a metal barrier outside the hotel while shouting derogatory phrases about asylum seekers.

Following her actions, Augustus was arrested at her home. During a court hearing on September 8, her lawyer indicated that she would deny charges including possession of an offensive weapon, affray, and common assault. She did admit to possession of cannabis.

The migrant involved in the incident, a man in his early twenties, was also arrested on suspicion of common assault. A spokesperson for the **Metropolitan Police** confirmed that he is currently in police custody.

The Britannia Hotel has become a focal point for protests in recent weeks. Both anti-migrant demonstrators and pro-migrant counter-protesters have gathered at the site, leading to multiple arrests, including one anti-migrant protester accused of throwing a bottle at officers, and a counter-protester detained for refusing to remove a face covering.

Augustus, who resides in **Tower Hamlets**, has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear at **Snaresbrook Crown Court** on **September 12, 2023**. This incident highlights the tensions surrounding the ongoing debates about asylum seekers in the UK and the challenges faced by communities in dealing with such situations.