Only a Grunt

[passedit]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2009/apr/07/g20-police-assault-video


Video reveals G20 police assault on man who died

Exclusive footage obtained by the Guardian shows Ian Tomlinson, who died during G20 protests in London, was attacked from behind by baton–wielding police officer
Dramatic footage obtained by the Guardian shows that the man who died at last week's G20 protests in London was attacked from behind and thrown to the ground by a baton–wielding police officer in riot gear.

Moments after the assault on Ian Tomlinson was captured on video, he suffered a heart attack and died.

The Guardian has handed a dossier of evidence to the police complaints watchdog.

It sheds new light on the events surrounding the death of the 47-year-old newspaper seller, who had been on his way home from work when he was confronted by lines of riot police near the Bank of England.

The submission to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) includes a collection of testimonies from witnesses, along with the video footage, shot at around 7.20pm, which shows Tomlinson at Royal Exchange Passage.

The film reveals that as he walks, with his hands in his pockets, he does not speak to the police or offer any resistance.

A phalanx of officers, some with dogs and some in riot gear, are close behind him and try to urge him forward.

A Metropolitan police officer appears to strike him with a baton, hitting him from behind on his upper thigh.

Moments later, the same policeman rushes forward and, using both hands, pushes Tomlinson in the back and sends him flying to the ground, where he remonstrates with police who stand back, leaving bystanders to help him to his feet.

The man who shot the footage, a fund manager from New York who was in London on business, said: "The primary reason for me coming forward is that it was clear the family were not getting any answers."

The Guardian's dossier also includes a sequence of photographs, taken by three different people, showing the aftermath of the attack, as well as witness statements from people in the area at the time.

A number of witnesses provided time and date-stamped photographs that substantiate their accounts.

Some said they saw police officers attack Tomlinson.

Witnesses said that, prior to the moment captured on video, he had already been hit with batons and thrown to the floor by police who blocked his route home.

One witness, Anna Branthwaite, a photographer, described how, in the minutes before the video was shot, she saw Tomlinson walking towards Cornhill Street.

"A riot police officer had already grabbed him and was pushing him," she said.

"It wasn't just pushing him – he'd rushed him. He went to the floor and he did actually roll. That was quite noticeable.

"It was the force of the impact. He bounced on the floor. It was a very forceful knocking down from behind. The officer hit him twice with a baton when he was lying on the floor.

"So it wasn't just that the officer had pushed him – it became an assault.

"And then the officer picked him up from the back, continued to walk or charge with him, and threw him.

"He was running and stumbling. He didn't turn and confront the officer or anything like that."

The witness accounts contradict the official version of events given by police.

In an official statement on the night of Tomlinson's death, the Metropolitan police made no reference to any contact with officers and simply described attempts by police medics and an ambulance crew to save his life after he collapsed – efforts they said were marred by protesters throwing missiles as first aid was administered .

The force said officers had created a cordon around Tomlinson to give him CPR.

"The officers took the decision to move him as during this time a number of missiles - believed to be bottles - were being thrown at them," it said.

Yesterday, the IPCC began managing an investigation by City of London police into the circumstances of Tomlinson's death after the Guardian published photographs of him on the ground and witness statements indicated he had been assaulted by police officers.

The IPCC commissioner for London, Deborah Glass, said: "Initially, we had accounts from independent witnesses who were on Cornhill, who told us that there had been no contact between the police and Mr Tomlinson when he collapsed."

"However, other witnesses who saw him in the Royal Exchange area have since told us that Mr Tomlinson did have contact with police officers.

"This would have been a few minutes before he collapsed. It is important that we are able to establish as far as possible whether that contact had anything to do with his death."

The IPCC added that Tomlinson was captured on CCTV walking onto Royal Exchange Passage.

"This is the aspect of the incident that the IPCC is now investigating," it said.

It was here the video was shot. A post mortem carried out by a Home Office pathologist last Friday revealed Tomlinson died of a heart attack.

Prior to seeing the dossier of evidence, Tomlinson's family said in a statement: "There were so many people around where Ian died, and so many people with cameras, that somebody must have seen what happened in the Royal Exchange passageway.

"We need to know what happened there and whether it had anything to do with Ian's death.

"We know that some people who were at the protest may not feel comfortable talking to the police.

"People are putting pictures on the internet, writing on blogs and talking to journalists. But we really need them to talk to the people who are investigating what happened."

[Orior]

What's with the thread title?

Unfortunately there are two sides to this story and opposing views will never reconcile.

a) the use of force was commensurate with his previous actions. He might have had a heart attack anyway, even if he hadnt been there
b) the use of force by the officer was certainly more than necessary which accelerated the heart attack

Lets all just agree to disagree now.

[passedit]

What's with the thread title?

What did you expect?

[Orior]

What's with the thread title?

What did you expect?

An Inquisition?

[Doogie Browser]

Don't get your logic Orior but I may be missing something.  Police attack man from behind - end of story, the IPCC have to look at this case now.
I could not just accept to agree to disagree if I were related to this man, they deserve some justice, doubt they will get it though.

[longrunsthefox]

Not sure about this title either considering the tread below about the Gairda killed in Letterkenny. They aren't all like that though sadly too many are and only for this footage would never have come to light. Is why I was so dubious of all that bad students-good cops rhetoric regarding Holyland trouble on St Patricks Day. What yer man did in London is fairly typical of police.

[mrsandman]

What do you expect from a pig, but(only) a grunt..is that what you meant?

[passedit]

Reports that he had already got a beating off the cnuts before this footage hence he looks a bit slow footed. Cover up started straight away with them battling to save him under a hail of bottles. De Menezes 'jumping the tube barriers with a heavy coat on anyone?

Indeed Mr Sandman.

[mrsandman]

Reports that he had already got a beating off the cnuts before this footage hence he looks a bit slow footed. Cover up started straight away with them battling to save him under a hail of bottles. De Menezes 'jumping the tube barriers with a heavy coat on anyone?

Indeed Mr Sandman.

Thought so, good title 

[Orior]

I'm keeping an open mind until i know that the victim was (a) carrying out a peaceful protest, and (b) that the heart attack was a direct result of the violence by the police.

PS. Thanks for enlightening me. I couldnt work out why someone would have a handle of "Mrs and Man"

[passedit]

(a) carrying out a peaceful protest,

No just trying to make his way home from work.

(b) that the heart attack was a direct result of the violence by the police.

Do you expect an 'independant enquiry' to establish this? Even if it wasn't is an unprovoked attack justified?

[mrsandman]

I'm keeping an open mind until i know that the victim was (a) carrying out a peaceful protest, and (b) that the heart attack was a direct result of the violence by the police.

PS. Thanks for enlightening me. I couldnt work out why someone would have a handle of "Mrs and Man"

it could be either or, orior

[Orior]

(a) carrying out a peaceful protest,

No just trying to make his way home from work.

(b) that the heart attack was a direct result of the violence by the police.

Do you expect an 'independant enquiry' to establish this? Even if it wasn't is an unprovoked attack justified?

Well if thats true then its shocking, and the policeman should be up for assault or even manslaughter.

[Gnevin]

What's with the thread title?

What did you expect?

An Inquisition?

Spanish?

[Katchit]

Any report I've read today has indicated that he was merely walking home from work and was not involved in any of the protests, he certainly didn't look to be in the videos in the BBC site.

A slight coincidence that he took a heart attack shortly after being bombarded to the ground by suprise ? I think not..