WPC hurt as horse bolts in chaos
Protesters in anti-racism demo hurl Boris bikes at mounted cops
PROTESTERS celebrated yesterday after a female police officer was injured in a horrific incident during the Black Lives Matter demonstration in Central London.
Violence flared shortly before 6pm as officers at the gates of Downing Street came under a hail of bottles and other missiles.
It came after tens of thousands of protesters ignored social distancing rules to take to the streets over the death of African-American George Floyd in Minneapolis two weeks ago.
At least one member of the Met was badly injured after her horse bolted during the fracas and raced down Whitehall.
The officer – who was seen being carried from the scene afterwards in an apparently unconscious state – was knocked off after hitting a traffic light at speed. On clips posted on social media, members of the crowd could be heard whooping as she fell to the ground.
Witnesses said the incident happened after a missile, possibly a flare, glanced off her shield and the panicked horse took off in fright.
Unconfirmed reports said the horse may have also been hit by a bike.
Police said last night: ‘The officer is currently in hospital, receiving treatment for her injuries which are not life-threatening. The officer fell from her horse and we are examining the full circumstances of what took place.’
One bystander said: ‘One flare was an inch from my head. It went right past me and hit the officer’s shield. A bike was thrown at the horse.’
After the officer fell, at least two so-called Boris bikes were launched at police horses. Police say no animals were injured.
Another witness said: ‘Flares were being chucked about by some of the protesters.
‘I saw at least one red flare make it over the main gates to Downing Street. There were bottles flying around too, mainly plastic ones, but there is glass all over the floor as well.
‘Suddenly, the police charged down Whitehall, on horseback. I saw one police rider knock herself out on a traffic light because one of the horses went a bit crazy.
‘There were loads of scattered Boris bikes on the ground and I saw this one guy pick one up and launch it at one of the police horses.
‘He wheeled it forcefully along the ground right into the horse but it didn’t unseat the officer. Then I saw who I think was the same man pick up another bike and do the same thing again.
‘He wheeled it with some force and it hit a horse.’
Boris bikes, introduced when the Prime Minister was Mayor of London, are parked in bays on the streets for short-term rentals.
Tensions had been simmering for more than an hour at the end of
Downing Street where around 400 people had gathered. The situation escalated after two flares were thrown over the security gates into the street.
Bottles and other missiles were hurled as riot squad officers emerged from behind the gates.
Police quickly restored order and began ‘kettling’ the crowd – confining people to small areas – to reduce movement. The Met said that four people were arrested for assault on police, criminal damage, making threats, and an incident of dangerous driving near the US Embassy.
Home Secretary Priti Patel condemned the mayhem, saying: ‘Protests must be peaceful.
‘Violence towards a police officer is completely unacceptable. The police have our full support in tackling any violence, vandalism or disorderly behaviour.’
The violence marred an otherwise peaceful day of protests in Manchester, Cardiff, Sheffield and Newcastle, with thousands defying calls to stay at home to curb the spread of coronavirus.
As one Tory MP put it last night: ‘Black Lives Matter but all lives matter and the virus does not discriminate.’ Footage of up to 15,000 people marching from Trafalgar Square to Parliament Square showed very little sign of social distancing.
And Professor Karol Sikora, medical director of Rutherford Health, said: ‘No one is saying not to protest but it needs to be done responsibly. It’s the jostling that is the problem, where people are being pushed up
‘A guy hurled a Boris bike with some force and it hit the horse’
against one another And people have to get to the protests; they get on trains, Tubes and buses.’
But one protester, Claudia Jones, 37, said: ‘People have been gathering on the beach and the numbers haven’t risen.’
Placards referenced the pandemic, with one saying: ‘There is a virus greater than Covid-19 and it’s called racism.’ Many other signs said ‘Black Lives Matter’ and ‘no justice, no peace’.
As the rally began, one organiser used a megaphone to tell the crowds: ‘We are not here for violence. Today is sheer positivity, today is sheer love.
‘Today we will not commit any violence to anyone.’
Despite pleas from Ms Patel and Met Commissioner Cressida
Dick, the protesters paid little heed to requests to stay away.
Among the crowds appeared to be pop star Madonna, wearing dark glasses, as astonished fans could be heard recognising her.
A few miles north in Watford, boxing heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua used crutches to join a peaceful protest.
In Cardiff around 2,000 people joined in a demonstration in Bute Park, while in West Belfast a new mural appeared dedicated to George Floyd.
In Manchester, around 1,500 protesters packed into Piccadilly Square to listen to speakers. Only a light police presence was visible. At 1.45pm the crowd fell silent and as one all knelt down in a show of respect for Mr Floyd.