Student protests: police hunt violent suspects
The Met Police release new images from the student protests – including one seeming to show a man with a petrol bomb – in a bid to find those responsible for violence. Simon Israel takes a look.
Peaceful student marches and demonstrations erupted into violence last year on four occasions – including an attack on a car carrying Prince Charles and Camilla through central London.
The Metropolitan Police have already released footage of that incident at the beginning of January, and have now put out four moving image clips and 10 new still images of other incidents they are investigating which took place during the student protests.
The footage includes images of a hooded figure running across Parliament Square holding a flaming object, which appears to be a petrol bomb. The video was recorded by a member of the public on the 9 December protest, the day of the tuition fees vote.
While some of the images came from the public, the police have also trawled through hundreds of hours of footage from London’s many CCTV cameras. The Met has formed a specialist unit called Operation Malone to try and bring to justice those responsible for violence and criminal damage.
More than 200 people have been arrested since the protests, but so far only one has been jailed – sixth former Edward Woollard, who was jailed for throwing a fire extinguisher from a roof at a protest.
Other suspects
Investigators have also obtained images of another suspect, who appears to be involved in the attack on Prince Charles and Camilla. He is also caught on camera kicking in the windows of a branch of Topshop in Oxford Circus, and throwing a metal fence at police.
Police also want to trace a friend of the man involved in the trio of incidents, including the Royal convoy attack, as well as those pictured in the 10 new still images, which were taken on 24 November.
Detective Chief Superintendent Matthew Horne, who is leading the inquiry, said: “The right to peaceful protest is fundamental. The Met polices thousands of public events each year and makes significant efforts to engage with organisers to ensure the safety of everyone.
“What we have released today is the unlawful side of protest. An individual throws what appears to be a petrol bomb, putting others in clear danger.
“Another young man is seen committing acts of suspected violent disorder in Parliament Square, attempting to cause damage to shops and attacking the Royal Convoy.
“We saw, this week, a young man with no criminal history sentenced to a substantial term of imprisonment for throwing a fire extinguisher off the roof of Millbank Tower.
“This clearly could have resulted in catastrophic injury to those below him. His actions and their consequences have also had a massive impact on his family. I would urge those intent on committing violence and damage to reflect upon this.”
The Met requests that anybody with information should call 0208 358 0100 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
