False alarm at London migrant hotel as protesters disrupt response

Fire engine represents emergency services response to incidents (Illustrative image - AI generated) Upday Stock Images

London Fire Brigade responded to reports of a fire at the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf on Sunday evening. Emergency services were called at 4:50pm to the hotel on Marsh Wall, Tower Hamlets.

Seven fire engines from Millwall, Poplar, Whitechapel and surrounding stations attended the scene. Video footage circulating online shows the significant emergency response outside the hotel, with firefighters conducting a systematic search of the building.

No fire found

Fire crews found no signs of fire after their thorough investigation of the premises. According to GB News, initial reports had specifically suggested an electrical fire on the seventh floor before the systematic search proved this to be false.

The incident was declared a false alarm, with Daily Mail reporting that emergency response concluded for fire crews at 18:35. The professional handling ensured a swift resolution despite the scale of the initial response.

The Britannia Hotel is currently housing hundreds of asylum seekers under government arrangements. The site has become a focal point for controversy, with regular anti-migrant protests occurring in recent weeks.

Inappropriate protester behavior

Anti-migrant protesters were present during the emergency response. Metro reports that protesters chanted "You just burnt to toast" during the incident, displaying inappropriate behavior while emergency services worked.

The hotel's location in London's financial district meant the large-scale emergency response was highly visible to the public. Daily Mail notes the hotel normally charges over £400 per night and has operated since 1992 during Canary Wharf's development.

Sources used: "Express", "Daily Mail", "GB News", "Metro"

Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.