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A demonstration in England against increased police powers took a violent and sickening turn over the weekend when protesters allegedly began defecating and urinating at the feet of riot officers.
The brutal protest kicked off in Bristol, in southwest England, after the government attempted to pass a bill granting police greater powers to crack down on disruptive protests.
Thousands of protesters marched through Bristol on Sunday night, urging the government to “Kill the Bill”.
But the original peaceful protest grew increasingly violent, culminating in a number of police officers being hurt and protesters allegedly defecating and urinating on the feet of riot officers.
Seven people have been arrested however police are expecting to make more arrests over the coming days.
John Apter, head of the police federation of England and Wales, said the riot was “just mindless violence”.
“Horrendous scenes in Bristol,” he said.
“Number of officers badly injured, police vehicles damaged and a police station under attack. This is not protest, it’s just mindless violence.”
The protesters hope the rally will force the government to kill the proposed “Police and Crime Bill” — drawn up to grant police greater powers to crack down on disruptive protests.
The protest in Bristol kicked off when hundreds of protesters converged on a local police station.
Two police vehicles were set on fire, damage was caused to a police station, one officer suffered a broken arm and another suffered broken ribs, Avon and Somerset police said.
Interior minister Priti Patel condemned the clashes as “unacceptable”.
“Thuggery and disorder by a minority will never be tolerated,” she tweeted.
A local MP from the opposition Labour Party, Darren Jones, described the scenes as “completely unacceptable”.
“You don’t campaign for the right to peaceful protest by setting police vans on fire or graffitiing buildings,” he said.
“Avon and Somerset Police were on duty today to facilitate a peaceful protest not to deal with criminal behaviour.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Carolyn Belafonte said police expected to make a number of arrests over the coming days.
“The investigation into Sunday’s disgraceful scenes of violence will undoubtedly be one of the largest in Avon and Somerset Police’s history,” she said.
“More than 100 officers and staff continue to work on the inquiry which is being led by our major crime investigation team.
“Hundreds of hours of digital material has already been reviewed and images of the first 10 people detectives want to talk to about Sunday’s events have been identified.
“Officers and staff are working their way through images and footage as quickly as they can but with more than two terabytes worth of CCTV footage as well as nearly 100 officers’ body worn video cameras and more than 100 videos already sent in by members of the public to review, this will take a considerable amount of time.”
Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees blasted the Sunday protest as “pathetic”.
“Smashing buildings in our city centre, vandalising vehicles, attacking our police will do nothing to lessen the likelihood of the Bill going through,” he said.
“On the contrary, the lawlessness on show will be used as evidence and promote the need for the Bill.
“This is a shameful day in an incredible year for Bristol.”
Mass gatherings are currently banned in England under coronavirus restrictions.
On Saturday, an anti-lockdown rally in London that drew thousands of protesters also left several police officers hurt and saw at least 36 people arrested.
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