Violent protests broke out on Sunday night in the British city of Bristol over a police and criminal bill that would create new restrictions on protests and grant new powers to the police.
The video of the scene showed a police vehicle on fire and protesters attacking the vehicle full of graffiti. One policeman had a broken arm and another a broken rib, officials said.
The “kill the bill” demonstration drew thousands of protesters in the southwestern city, witnesses reported.
The authorities quickly denounced the violence.
British Interior Minister Priti Patel said the scenes in Bristol were unacceptable.
“Theft and disorder by a minority will never be tolerated,” she said on Twitter. “Our police are putting themselves in danger to protect us all. My thoughts tonight are with the policemen injured. “
Reuters news agency reported that one of its photographers saw protesters launching fireworks at police officers, climbing a police building and spraying graffiti on it. The photographer also saw policemen, some dressed in shock, trying to repel protesters using batons and shields.
The officers said the officers “had projectiles fired at them, including fireworks, and were verbally abused.”
Declaring that “these scenes are absolutely shameful”, the Avon and Somerset Police Department said in a statement that “those responsible for the crimes will be identified and brought to justice,” the force said on Twitter.
The policing bill being debated in Parliament would make it easier for authorities to set limits on demonstrations and punish protesters who refuse to comply with the rules.
Opposition to the measure increased following a police crackdown at a London rally earlier this month to protest violence against women.
Police received widespread criticism for conducting a vigil to mark the murder of a 33-year-old woman. The South London vigil went to Sarah Everard, whose death sparked a national outcry over misogyny. Officials from the Metropolitan Police, London’s main force, clashed with some of the participants.
Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees said on Sunday that he recognized “the frustrations” with the policing bill, the BBC reported, but that “destroying buildings in the city center, vandalizing vehicles, attacking our police will do nothing to lessen it.” the likelihood of the bill passing. “