Three police officers injured after “sustained violence” in Plymouth
A Devon and Cornwall police officer said “sustained violence” had erupted following protests in Plymouth and that three officers had been injured during clashes in the city.
Speaking at the scene, bronze commander Inspector Ryan North Moore told Sky News: “This is not a protest anymore. In my opinion, this is violence. This is sustained violence.
“Unfortunately, large masonry was thrown at us, whether it was aimed at us or others or opposing groups – we don’t know yet. The investigation will identify that.
“But, yes, three officers down.”
Asked how difficult it was to police the protest, Inspector Moore added: “It’s off the scale today.
“With the resources we’ve got, it’s difficult.”
The acting police commissioner for Devon and Cornwall Police, Jim Colwell, has praised the operation.
“Very brave, robust policing in Plymouth this evening,” he wrote on X.
“D&C officers, supported by colleagues from across the region, responding to abhorrent, mindless criminal behaviour.”
Very brave, robust policing in Plymouth this evening. D&C officers, supported by colleagues from across the region, responding to abhorrent, mindless criminal behaviour. https://t.co/lhKdif56ls
— A/CC Jim Colwell (@DCCJimColwell) August 5, 2024
Key events
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said they are dealing with ongoing disorder in the Donegall Road area, and urged people to avoid the Donegall Road and Sandy Row areas.
Video footage filmed by asylum seekers inside a Rotherham Holiday Inn Express shows far-right rioters making threatening gestures as they surround the premises.
Superintendent Russ Dawe, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said “several” officers have been injured following the disorder in Plymouth city centre.
Devon and Cornwall Police said 150 officers are deployed in Plymouth city centre and “work is ongoing to de-escalate the situation” after officers were injured during clashes.
In a post on social media, the force said: “We currently have 150 officers deployed in Plymouth City Centre.
“Violence will not be tolerated, hate will not be tolerated.
“Work is ongoing to de-escalate the situation.”
Three police officers injured after “sustained violence” in Plymouth
A Devon and Cornwall police officer said “sustained violence” had erupted following protests in Plymouth and that three officers had been injured during clashes in the city.
Speaking at the scene, bronze commander Inspector Ryan North Moore told Sky News: “This is not a protest anymore. In my opinion, this is violence. This is sustained violence.
“Unfortunately, large masonry was thrown at us, whether it was aimed at us or others or opposing groups – we don’t know yet. The investigation will identify that.
“But, yes, three officers down.”
Asked how difficult it was to police the protest, Inspector Moore added: “It’s off the scale today.
“With the resources we’ve got, it’s difficult.”
The acting police commissioner for Devon and Cornwall Police, Jim Colwell, has praised the operation.
“Very brave, robust policing in Plymouth this evening,” he wrote on X.
“D&C officers, supported by colleagues from across the region, responding to abhorrent, mindless criminal behaviour.”
Very brave, robust policing in Plymouth this evening. D&C officers, supported by colleagues from across the region, responding to abhorrent, mindless criminal behaviour. https://t.co/lhKdif56ls
— A/CC Jim Colwell (@DCCJimColwell) August 5, 2024
At least three police officers have been injured so far in Plymouth.
Bottles, bricks and fireworks have been thrown into the crowd by far-right protesters, Sky News reported.
Police are attempting to push back demonstrators after protesters clashed with officers in riot gear.
Officers detained a man on the floor, PA reported.
The worst of the far-right violence seen in England this weekend should be treated as terrorism, a prominent former police chief has said, amid warnings over a new wave of unrest targeting migration lawyers, writes Vikram Dodd, Emine Sinmaz and Neha Gohil.
Police have made 378 arrests since the violence broke out last week, with rioters setting fire to a library, looting shops and storming hotels housing asylum seekers.
A far-right-led mob tried to set fire to the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham on Sunday while people were inside. Some masked rioters hurled pieces of wood, bottles and chairs, and sprayed fire extinguishers at police officers, 12 of whom were injured.
Neil Basu, Britain’s former head of counter-terrorism, said he believed the attack should be treated as an act of terrorism as he condemned the rioters as “bullies and cowards”.
“Trying to set ablaze a building with people inside, whom you have made clear you detest, is an act of violence against people and property with a racial cause designed to intimidate a section of the public – be it Muslims or asylum seekers,” he said.
“Not only does it fit the definition of terrorism, it is terrorism. It’s nothing short of an attempt at a modern-day lynching and the people who did it should be facing life imprisonment, not a five-year sentence for violent disorder.”
Armed forces minister Luke Pollard said protesters who have “thrown projectiles at people” are “not what Plymouth is about”.
In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, the MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport said: “There is absolutely no place for violence on our streets. There’s no place for hate on our streets.”
Stephen Parkinson, the director of public prosecutions, warned children who get involved in disorder could face life-long consequences.
“One of the most striking features of the current outbreak of disorder is that many young people are involved. Children as young as 11. This is deeply disturbing,” he said.
“They may face life-long consequences: conviction, and a permanent record of their involvement on the Police National Database. This can limit their employment options in the future and ability to travel to certain countries.
“For adults, these offences can attract lengthy sentences of imprisonment, beyond the two-year maximum detention available for young offenders.
“Sentencing is a matter for the judiciary, but from the evidence that I have seen, sentencing guidelines suggest that immediate imprisonment will be appropriate for the type of violent disorder that has been witnessed.
“If this seems harsh, the reality, from reports I have received from prosecutors, is that there has been a terrible impact on communities: people barricaded in properties, businesses destroyed and police officers facing violence while trying to keep people safe.”
Vikram Dodd
In Birmingham hundreds of people gathered after rumours of a far-right gathering in England’s second city.
So far no so called protest has emerged and sources said people were starting to disperse.
It is a sign of how tense the situation is across various communities.