Four arrested in Epsom as protest over alleged rape turns violent

Four people have been arrested at another protest in Epsom after a woman was allegedly raped outside a church over a week ago.

Police were pelted with eggs and beer cans as people gathered on a residential street in the Surrey town on Monday evening.

In an update last week, officers said there was no evidence so far to support the woman's claim and no evidence that asylum seekers or immigrants were involved.

Surrey Police posted on a local Facebook group on Monday to say the protest had "escalated to public disorder, including missiles being thrown".

"Officers have surrounded a residential property and nearby hotels after they were targeted by protesters purporting that they were locations housing those seeking asylum," the post added.

Police said the information was "wholly inaccurate" and officers had been forced to put on "full protective public order uniform".

They warned anyone committing a crime would face "robust action".

It's the second time police in riot gear have faced off with protesters in the Surrey town since the alleged rape in the early hours of Saturday 11 April.

The woman said she was attacked outside a Methodist church on Ashley Road after leaving the Labyrinth nightclub.

There was some public anger that the force had not released the ethnicity of any suspects but Surrey Police said this was because "the information about the incident and potential suspects is so limited".

"To date, we have not found any evidence of the offence as reported but the investigation is ongoing," said assistant chief constable Sarah Grahame on Friday.

"No descriptions have been released as the information about the incident and potential suspects is so limited," she added.

"To address the specific commentary, there is no evidence that asylum seekers or immigrants were involved."

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The first protest took place last Wednesday when people congregated in Epsom town centre. The group blocked the road before leaving around 8pm.

Danny Tommo, a former associate of right-wing activist Tommy Robinson, had promoted the event online.

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