Boris Johnson condemns 'disgraceful' attacks on police at Bristol protest
(CNN)UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has condemned protests in the city of Bristol that saw demonstrators clash with police over a controversial policing bill for a second weekend in a row. Critics say the bill would curtail the right to demonstrate in the UK.
In a tweet Saturday, Johnson said the protests saw "disgraceful attacks against police officers in Bristol."
"Our
officers should not have to face having bricks, bottles and fireworks
being thrown at them by a mob intent on violence and causing damage to
property," he said.
People
took to the streets on Friday evening -- the third protest in a week --
to voice their opposition to the bill, with more protests expected
across the UK over the weekend.
Crowds
walked through Bristol city center -- past the site of the site of the
now-toppled statue of slave trader Edward Colston -- and ended up
outside Bridewell police station, which had stones hurled at it by
demonstrators last weekend.
More
than 1,000 people were in attendance, according to Avon and Somerset
police, and protesters could be heard shouting "peaceful protest" and
"shame on you" at officers.
Videos circulating online show appear to show demonstrators being shoved to the floor and hit with riot shields.
A
journalist for the Daily Mirror tweeted a video of officers apparently
forcefully moving him out of the way and seemingly hitting him with
batons as he can be heard shouting, "I'm press!"
Avon and Somerset police said they were aware of the video and were trying to contact the journalist involved.
The
police said items such as eggs and glasses were thrown at them,
fireworks were launched at their mounted section and attempts were made
to pull at their shields. A total of 10 people were arrested, with dogs
and horses being used by officers until 1 a.m. local time.
Superintendent
Mark Runacres said "the majority of people acted peacefully however
there was a minority who once again showed hostility to officers."
Tensions
were especially high as the same police force admitted on Friday that
last weekend's reports -- claiming that officers suffered injuries
including broken bones and a punctured lung at the hands of protesters
-- were untrue.
"Thankfully
the injuries -- while still serious -- did not involve fractures or a
punctured lung. We believed the information had been verified but it had
not, and while we apologise for that there was no intention to
mislead," Avon and Somerset Police said in a updated statement.
The
proposed policing bill, along with the violent break-up of a vigil to a
murdered woman earlier this month and the arrest of a serving police
officer on suspicion of her murder, has put relations between British
police and much of the public under severe strain.
Metropolitan
Police officer Wayne Couzens was charged with the kidnap and murder of
Sarah Everard, in a case that has been intensely followed and led to a
renewed national discussion about intimidation, harassment and violence
against women.
But
the police became subjects of ire, too, when they moved in on a
peaceful vigil to Everard in south London on March 13 and appeared to
force women to the ground, an approach that has led to a review and cast
scrutiny on pending legislation that would boost their powers to
dismantle protests and mass gatherings in the future.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/27/uk/bristol-protest-friday-intl-gbr/index.html
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