Police officer ‘punched in face’ and child pepper-sprayed during anti-migrant clashes at Canary Wharf shopping mall
(Credits: Ehimetalor Unuabona/Story Picture Agency)
A protest in London yesterday descended into chaos as dozens of men, women and children draped in English flags marched into a shopping centre.
Police have made four arrests so far at the protest on the Isle of Dogs, near Canary Wharf.
At one point, a large group was filmed walking into the Canary Wharf Shopping Centre, with some children heard hooting and hollering.
Police said a small number of mask wearing protesters then became aggressive towards members of the public and police.
Footage shows a group of Union-Jack balaclava-clad men surrounding a unit of police.
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(Credits: George Cracknell Wright)
Pepper spray was used to disperse the crowd, allegedly catching one child who had been brought along.
Images show a man in a balaclava pouring water on a tracksuited boy’s face who appears to be in agony.
The force explained their use of PAVA spray on X: ‘Officers witnessed an assault by a protester on a member of the public inside Canary Wharf shopping centre.
‘The suspect was immediately arrested by officers who used PAVA spray.
‘We are aware other protesters and members of the public, including a child, may have been temporarily affected by the use of PAVA given the density of the crowds in the area.’
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Many of the group were masked, and one officer was reportedly punched in the face.
The Met said: ‘Arrests were made for common assault by a protester on a member of the public, possession of class A and B drugs, assault on police/public order offences and failure to disperse.
‘One of our officers was punched in the face – luckily they did not suffer significant injury.’
The force added: ‘Officers witnessed an assault by a protester on a member of the public inside Canary Wharf shopping centre.
‘The suspect was immediately arrested by officers who used PAVA spray.
We are aware other protesters and members of the public, including a child, may have been temporarily affected by the use of PAVA given the density of the crowds in the area.’
Commander Adam Slonecki added: ‘We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour. Today’s protest saw many community members attend, including women and children, and we worked to ensure the safety of those there to peacefully represent their views.
‘Those who arrive at protests masked and intent on causing trouble will continue to be dealt with robustly at future protests.’
In Epping, more protesters marched carrying flares to the town’s civic centre furious at the Home Office’s decision to keep the Bell Hotel open to migrants.
Police were seen dragging away one woman who unfurled a Union Jack on the council offices.
Essex Police said: ‘We were in Epping tonight to facilitate a protest.
‘3 people were arrested. 1 arrest — of a woman — was filmed. She was not arrested for flying a Union Flag.
‘She was arrested on suspicion of breaching a Section 14 order because the Civic Centre was outside of the protest area.’
On Saturday, another group of ‘patriots’ boarded kayaks in an attempt to raise the English flag beneath a hotel in Canary Wharf.
He was filmed falling in, while wearing his balaclava, as he struggled to get out of the water.
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