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The violence that erupted during a “Kill The Bill” protest was caused by people who “came to fight with the police,” the Bristol police chief said.
The event was organized to protest against the government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill that would increase the powers of the police to deal with non-violent demonstrations.
However, what began peacefully on Sunday afternoon turned ugly afterward. Hundreds of protesters marched from College Green to the New Bridewell Police Station.
A protester graffiti a police vehicle
Twenty police officers were injured, two seriously, one with broken bones and one with a suspected punctured lung, during violent skirmishes with masked thugs.
Andy Marsh of the Avon and Somerset police told Sky News that several of the protesters “came to fight with the police.”
“It was a terrifying scene. Neighborhood officers were effectively trapped inside the building with people on the roofs throwing fireworks and projectiles at them.
“And the other officers outside doing their best to protect everyone present.
Protesters stand near a burning police vehicle
“It really was a shameful scene committed by criminals. I don’t think this was a protest.
“They were not people frustrated by the lack of ability to protest, they were people trying to cause serious disorder, violence and damage, people with resentment against the police.”
“The people involved in assaulting officers, setting vehicles on fire, damaging vehicles, breaking windows, throwing projectiles from the multi-story parking lot, throwing things at our horses and dogs, they were people who came to fight with the police.
“We did everything we could to try to defuse the situation … to disperse that crowd to encourage them to leave, but in the end, unfortunately, it turned into violence.”
The rioters smashed the windows of the police station and also destroyed police vehicles parked nearby, setting fire to a car and a van.
Cars parked in a multi-story car park next to the police station were also damaged by protesters.
Workers begin clean-up after Sunday’s violence
At least seven people have been arrested.
Interior Minister Priti Patel tweeted about the “unacceptable scenes.”
“The violence and disorder of a minority will never be tolerated,” he wrote.
“Our police officers put themselves in danger to protect us all.
“My thoughts tonight are with the wounded cops.”
Andy Roebuck, president of the Avon and Somerset Police Federation, said: “Disgusting scenes in Bristol by a multitude of animals that are injuring police officers, members of the public and damaging property.”
“We have officers with suspected broken arms and ribs.
“This is so wrong.”
A banner left on a city street after protests
One protester told Sky News: “I think it was important to be here when things are peaceful because the right to protest is crucial to any democracy, obviously.
“However, this is a bit embarrassing for the city of Bristol.
“This is not a peaceful protest. It will simply be used against us as evidence to keep our right to protest away from us.”
The Police, Crimes, Sentencing and Courts bill would give officers in England and Wales more power to impose conditions on non-violent protests, including those deemed too loud or disruptive.
Those convicted under the proposed legislation could face a fine or prison.
