KILL THE BILL RIOT
POLICE SERIOUSLY INJURED AS MOB GOES ON RAMPAGE
POLICE suffered broken bones last night as a demonstration in Bristol against a new government bill covering peaceful protests turned violent.
One officer had his arm broken and another had a rib fractured as Bridewell police station came under siege from hundreds of protesters. Both were taken to hospital.
Activists smashed windows and set fire to two police vans.
Other vehicles were rocked by the crowd, sprayed with graffiti and had their tyres let down.
Protesters also threw fireworks into the crowd.
Ch Supt Will White said the peaceful protest was turned into ‘violent disorder’ by a small minority.
‘These scenes are absolutely disgraceful and they will be widely condemned by people across the city,’ he added. ‘There can never be any excuse for wanton disorder.’
‘These are men and women out there with the intention of serving and protecting the public – they should never be subjected to assaults or abuse in this way,’ he added, vowing those involved would be identified.
Andy Roebuck, chairman of Avon and Somerset Police Federation, said the level of violence was ‘really unprecedented’ in the city.
Home secretary Priti Patel called the scenes ‘unacceptable’.
She added: ‘Thuggery and disorder by a minority will never be tolerated. Our police officers put themselves in harm’s way to protect us all.
‘My thoughts this evening are with those police officers injured.’
Earlier, thousands had joined the ‘Kill the Bill’ march through the city against a law that could see protesters jailed for taking part in demonstrations judged to be noisy or a ‘nuisance’. Campaigners say this could threaten freedom of speech.
The proposed law, which passed its second reading in parliament last week, also gives judges the power to imprison people for up to ten years for damaging a memorial.
Last summer, Black Lives Matter activists tore down slave trader Edward Colston’s statue in Bristol and threw it in the harbour.