Police haul away anti-lockdown protestors as they march through Bristol without masks chanting ‘freedom’
- Group Stand Up Bristol – which has 2,800 Facebook members – gathered with signs in the city this morning
- Many were picture being arrested by officers from Avon and Somerset police and one officer was assaulted
- The group had previously been told that they faced being issued with fines for being involved in the march
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Hundreds of anti-lockdown protestors are marching through Bristol city centre today despite warnings they could face fines for breaking coronavirus restrictions.
The group Stand Up Bristol – which has 2,800 Facebook members – gathered with signs in the city this morning, with many maskless protestors pictured being arrested by police as tensions bubbled over.
Avon and Somerset police also said that as well as several people being arrested for failing to comply with the directions of officers, one arrest was also made after an officer was assaulted.
Hundreds of anti-lockdown protesters are marching through Bristol city centre today despite warnings they could face fines for breaking coronavirus restrictions
The group Stand Up Bristol – which has 2,800 Facebook members – gathered with signs in the city this morning, with many maskless protestors pictured being arrested by police
Avon and Somerset police also said that as well as several people being arrested for failing to comply with the directions of officers, one arrest was also been made after an officer was assaulted
The group had previously been told that they faced being issued with fines and possible arrest for being involved in the gathering on the city’s College Green
Anti lockdown protestors march through Bristol city centre today. It comes despite Priti Patel banning demonstrations duration of the second lockdown
The group had previously been told that they faced being issued with fines and possible arrest for being involved in the gathering on the city’s College Green.
It comes despite Priti Patel banning demonstrations duration of the second lockdown which will run until December 2, in line with rules that you can only meet one other person outdoors in a public setting.
Anyone caught participating in a gathering of more than 30 people can be fined £200.
Avon and Somerset police had pleaded with the group earlier this week to cancel the planned march.
The force has asserted it will ‘not stand by’ this Saturday and Chief Inspector Mark Runacres stressed the health risks, saying he was ‘disappointed’ the protest was still set to go ahead.
Avon and Somerset police had pleaded with the group earlier this week to cancel the planned march but they went ahead with their plans today
Avon and Somerset Police said today: Today they said: ‘Around 200 protestors are now marching through Bristol city centre. This gathering is unlawful and is putting others at risk
Supporters of the group gathered at midday on College Green before marching through the city, ignoring pleas from the police
The protesters march down from College Green in Bristol today to head towards the city centre. None of them appeared to be wearing masks
It comes after there were wide spread anti-lockdown protests across the UK last weekend, with huge groups descending on Brighton and Liverpool city centres. Pictured is Bristol today
One woman put on a very animated display as she was escorted away by police in Bristol after she took part in the demonstration
Meeting people outside of your household in groups of more than two people is currently banned under the second national lockdown, and anyone caught participating in a gathering of more than 30 people can be fined £200
Police are pictured arresting a woman in Bristol this morning, as the force struggled to keep control of the hundreds of demonstrators
The force has asserted it will ‘not stand by’ this Saturday and Chief Inspector Mark Runacres stressed the health risks, saying he was ‘disappointed’ the protest was still set to go ahead
Today the force tweeted: ‘We continue to urge people protesting in Bristol city centre to go home’. However the groups kept gathering
On Twitter Avon and Somerset Police took to Twitter today and said that the group was made up of around 200 demonstrators
The police presence is increasing at the anti-lockdown protest in Bristol and the force has urged people to go home immediately
Tensions bubbled over in the city centre today as around 200 people were out on the streets protesting the lockdown rules in place in England
Police officers at the scene in Bristol city centre today were all wearing face masks but most of the protestors were maskless
Today they said: ‘Around 200 protestors are now marching through Bristol city centre. This gathering is unlawful and is putting others at risk.
‘Arrests have been made as people have failed to comply with the directions of officers. One arrest has also been made after an officer was assaulted.’
It comes after there were wide spread anti-lockdown protests across the UK last weekend, with huge groups descending on Brighton and Liverpool city centres.
Some European cities such as Leipzig in Germany also had trouble with protests.