Hunt for thug who set police van ablaze
Bristol riot PCs were still inside burning vehicle
DETECTIVES yesterday released an image of a man they want to speak to after a hooded thug attempted to set fire to a police van while officers were still inside.
The shocking images were taken on Sunday after hundreds of extremists hijacked a peaceful protest in Bristol.
Three police vans and another nine vehicles were damaged in the clashes, while rioters smashed the windows of Bridewell Street police station.
The violence followed demonstrations against proposed legislation that would see the police handed more powers to clamp down on protests.
One officer, who was inside the police van as rioters tried to set it alight, described how they were on their way to protect colleagues when they were attacked.
They said: ‘I could hear screaming and shouting from the officers as they were being attacked – a call was made for vehicles to be used to assist officers.
‘The only way to protect my colleagues was to place the vehicle across, side on, in front of them.
‘There were glass bottles, rocks as big as fists, pallets, fences and other objects strewn across the road and being used against the police. Whilst in the vehicle, a number of people attempted to gain entry to it, however the vehicle was bolted shut.
‘I was aware of the smell of burning and CCTV reported people were attempting to set the vehicle tyres alight, with me still in it.’
Police have arrested 11 people in relation to Sunday’s violence and another 13 people relating to incidents at a second night of demonstrations on Tuesday evening. A man has also appeared in court to deny a charge of possession of an offensive weapon after he was found with a homemade spear.
Calls for a third protest to take place later today – dubbed ‘Kill the Bill’ by its supporters – have been circulated on social media.
Avon and Somerset Police Chief Superintendent Claire Armes issued a plea for calm.
She said: ‘Once again, we remind everyone that we’re still in a pandemic. Protest is a right which we’re asking people to be responsible about exercising right now.
‘Please consider making your voice heard in different ways.’
It came as the force retracted previous claims that two officers suffered broken bones and a punctured lung in Sunday’s clashes.
But it said it was investigating 40 assaults on its officers.