Photojournalist ‘manhandled’ out of Tory party conference

An award-winning photographer who was ejected from the Conservative party conference despite having a press pass has criticised security for “manhandling” him.

Tolga Akmen, a staff photojournalist at European Pressphoto Agency (EPA), said he photographed Liz Truss crossing the bridge to the International Convention Centre in Birmingham before moving towards the hall where the prime minister was scheduled to give her speech on Wednesday.

But a video posted on social media shows Akmen being forcibly moved by two men while telling the photographer he was being “aggressive” to which he responds: “I’m a member of the media. Can you stop this please?

“What are you doing? I didn’t do anything … I promise you, I didn’t do anything.”

Akmen said after the footage was taken he was “thrown out” in the rain without his equipment and jacket, which was later recovered by security.

The 31-year-old told the PA news agency: “There was no need for manhandling. We could have talked about it. I didn’t try to get in where I wasn’t allowed to.

“I don’t see anyone else being told off and I do not know why they picked on me. I happen to be someone who argued back, and they don’t [take] kindly to that.

“We should have access and are accredited media. I showed them my press card. I have never had anything like this happen in my life.”

Akmen said the incident began when he showed his press pass to security and tried to enter via the closest entrance, but was refused access.

The staff photographer said he and colleagues then walked towards another entrance before he heard a security guard radioing his description, saying he had been acting “aggressively and needed to be stopped”.

That same guard, he claims, followed him then “singled him out” from the other journalists and “started pushing and dragging” him away with other security personnel.

A Conservative party spokesperson said: “We are aware there was an incident earlier today where a photographer was removed by venue security staff. We believe there may have been a misunderstanding and have been in contact with the photographer.”

Akmen confirmed Conservative campaign headquarters had been in touch to apologise, adding that he was waiting for a formal apology to be sent.