At least seven police officers were wounded by rioters in London by throwing bricks, glass bottles and other makeshift missiles at them as they pulled out of a mob in what is characterized as an “unlicensed musical event.”
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) confirmed Saturday that they responded to reports of an “unlicensed music event” in White City in west London on Friday night.
As the group violently assaulted the officers, the police were forced to withdraw and await reinforcements in the form of specially trained law enforcement officers. They also encountered a backlash from the mob after marching in a phalanx-like formation, but they eventually dispersed the meeting around 1 a.m.
BREAKING – Scotland Yard confirms that 7 policemen were injured and several police vehicles damaged after crowds who attended an unlicensed music event in White City, West London, turned violent. https://t.co/et2761WLlv
– Mark White (@skymarkwhite) July 3, 2020
Images shared on social media showed that officers were thrown with bricks, glass bottles, and other shells when they initially left the scene.
Large gatherings of people remain illegal under British coronavirus regulations, although Black Lives Matter supporters have denounced them with impunity and last night’s violence marked the second consecutive weekend of violent attacks on officers trying to stifle calls. ” street parties “in the capital.
Bricks are thrown at the police as they try to clean up a large group of property in White City pic.twitter.com/jd2HSRoyFq
– Noel Phillips (@Noel_Phillips) July 3, 2020
“Officers have responded to residents by complaining of a large gathering, noise, antisocial behavior and violence,” said Assistant Deputy Commissioner Laurence Taylor.
“These meetings are illegal and also pose a risk to public health.
“The violence shown towards the officers tonight was totally unacceptable and we will not tolerate it in any way. The officers found bricks and other missiles launched at them, “Taylor confirmed.
Our robust police response demonstrated that we will firmly monitor incidents like these and stop attempts to cause harm or disruption to our communities, ”added Taylor.
So far there have been no arrests made by the police in connection with the violent riots.
More fighting: as a dispersal zone and section 60 are now in place in White City pic.twitter.com/c0PtPTbEhf
– Noel Phillips (@Noel_Phillips) July 4, 2020
Last week, 22 officers were injured during a similar altercation with police and protesters in Brixton, with other illegal “street parties” witnessed in Notting Hill, Newham and Clapham.
In response to the violent riots in White City, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said it was “shameful that police officers were attacked with some injuries sustained at an illegal gathering in White City last night.” Violence against the police will not be tolerated and the perpetrators will be captured and prosecuted. “
Khan went on to say that as pubs open across the nation on Saturday, additional officers “will be out today and continue to work hard to keep our city safe.”
Police in White City will be like “Affone bayonets” pic.twitter.com/HViU2t6eG4
– Michael Morgan (@mikewhoatv) July 4, 2020
Despite his rhetoric, Khan has refused to suppress the often violent mass gatherings of Black Lives Matter protests in the city, regardless of their illegality.
In June, the left-wing mayor announced that, as a result of the tax collection shortage during the Chinese coronavirus pandemic, the city will seek to cut some £ 110 from the budget for the Metropolitan Police, the Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime (MOPAC), and the fire brigade, among other public agencies.
@MPFed’s Tim Clarke speaks after 7 colleagues were injured last night: “This massacre is appalling … police leaders must ensure that our colleagues who attend unlicensed music events are adequately equipped for the violent behavior that is very likely”. https://t.co/PYRtFq4bac pic.twitter.com/b8zR8N92Zr
– Met Police Federation (@MPFed) July 4, 2020
Follow Kurt on Twitter at @KurtZindulka
