The asylum seeker, who did not want to be identified because of concerns for his safety, said the trouble had been preceded a day earlier with people passing the hotel and shouting abuse.
The man, who had been in the hotel for two months waiting for his asylum claim to be processed, described the fear and panic when the attack began.
“They entered from the back/kitchen to the dining area and broke the windows from the inside,” he said.
“From the inside they threw chairs and tables onto the police and were throwing other things at the police.
“And then they started the fire. People were really scared inside the hotel.”
One week on, and having been moved to another hotel, he said the fear had not subsided.
“I am pretty sure most of the people who were in the hotel are still in a kind of panic,” he said.
“They are traumatised, they are not in a good situation.”
