By Bristol demonstration turns violent with police officers suffering broken bones
What was supposed to be a peaceful demonstration in Bristol yesterday turned violent, with police officers suffering broken bones and police vans being set alight by members of the crowd.
The crowd of thousands had gathered for the Kill the Bill demonstration to oppose the new Police and Crime Bill which restricts people’s rights to protest.
Many protestors at the Bristol demonstration wore face masks and carried signs with slogans reading: “Say no to UK police state”, “Freedom to protest is fundamental to democracy”, and “Kill the Bill”.
This comes after the police violently intervened in the Clapham Common vigil for murdered 33-year-old Sarah Everard last week.
Demonstrators in Bristol also scaled a police station, smashed windows, vandalised walls and threw fireworks into the crowd.
Twelve police vehicles were damaged, and 20 police officers were injured. One officer suffered a collapsed lung, and one officer suffered a broken arm. Another suffered broken ribs.
Backup arrives and the flames go higher #killthebill #bristol pic.twitter.com/3efPAIODRx
— Alon Aviram (@AlAviram) March 21, 2021
Bristol, England: Far-left rioters try to destroy the police station. Officers are believed to have suffered broken bones tonight. Flyers for the riot was shared by the city’s BLM & Extinction Rebellion groups. pic.twitter.com/0VOEJv6kiy
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) March 21, 2021
Chair of Avon and Somerset Police Federation Andy Roebuck said: “This is the worst violence in Bristol for many, many years.
“It’s really unprecedented violence. Between four and six or possibly more officers are seriously injured and some have broken bones.
“No one had any indication it would erupt this way.”
Other public figures Tweeted about the scenes of the Bristol demonstration.
Home Secretary Priti Patel called the events “unacceptable” as a result of “thuggery and disorder by a minority”.
Unacceptable scenes in Bristol tonight.
Thuggery and disorder by a minority will never be tolerated.
Our police officers put themselves in harms way to protect us all.
My thoughts this evening are with those police officers injured.
— Priti Patel (@pritipatel) March 21, 2021
Piers Morgan branded the scenes “digusting” and urged readers that UK police are among “the best in the world”.
Disgusting scenes in #Bristol tonight. I’m sick and tired of seeing the police coming under constant attack in this pandemic. Our cops are some of the best in the world – give them a bloody break.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 21, 2021
Others Tweeted in support of the protesters, claiming that the new Bill “restricts civil liberties”.
Let's be real, nothing would be happening in Bristol were it not for police attacking the vigil for Sarah Everard last weekend, or the government trying to push through a bill which restricts civil liberties.
You don't keep the peace by clamping down on peaceful protest.
— Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar) March 21, 2021
If the government attempts to criminalise peaceful protest, and police are set on women at a vigil, the scenes tonight in Bristol become an inevitability.
"No justice, no peace" isn't best understood as a threat, but as a statement of the glaringly obvious.
— Owen Jones 🌹 (@OwenJones84) March 21, 2021
Under Covid-19 restrictions, mass gatherings are currently banned. Anyone breaching these requirements can be fined.
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