Violent protests erupted in the British city of Bristol on Sunday night over a proposed bill on police and crime that would create new restrictions on protests and give broad new powers to the police.
The video of the scene shows a police vehicle catching fire and loading protesters on the graffiti-strewn vehicle. One authority had a broken arm and another one had a broken rib, authorities said.
The witness reported that the protest “kill the bill” attracted thousands of protesters in the southwestern city.
Authorities quickly exposed the violence.
British Home Secretary Priti Patel said the scenes in Bristol were unacceptable.
“Bullying and disorder by a minority will never be tolerated,” she said. said on Twitter. “Our police officers are putting themselves in a bad position to protect us all. My thoughts tonight are with the injured police officers. ”
The Reuters news agency reported that one of his photographers saw protesters shoot fireworks at police officers and scale down a police building and spray-paint graffiti on it. The photographer also saw police officers, some in full riot, trying to fend off protesters using batons and shields.
Police officers said officers “threw projects at them, including a firework, and were verbally abused.”
Police, Avon and Somerset, stated that “these scenes are absolutely shameful” in a statement saying that “those responsible for offenses will be identified and brought to justice,” the force said on Twitter.
The police bill being debated in parliament will make it easier for the authorities to stage protests and punish protesters who refuse to comply with the rules.
Opposition to the measure has increased following a police action against a rally held in London earlier this month to protest violence against women.
Police have widely criticized their handling of a guard to mark the murder of a 33-year-old woman. The vigilance in South London was for Sarah Everard, whose murder touched a national outcry over misogyny. Officers from the Metropolitan Police, the main force in London, clashed with some of the participants.
Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees said on Sunday he acknowledged “the frustrations” with the police bill, the BBC reported, but that “smashing buildings in our city center, vandalizing vehicles, attacking our police will do nothing” help reduce the likelihood of the bill not going through. “