Riot going on now in Bristol - Stokes Croft

[BigTom]

And it appears the police are either raiding or evicting Telepathic Heights right now

http://www.yfrog.com/h3omznkj

 

[strung out]

police account of last night...

FIFTEEN people were arrested after violent disorder disrupted the Stokes Croft community in Bristol last night.

Further arrests are expected after the violence, which saw several police officers suffer head, neck, back and leg injuries, and require hospital treatment after being pelted with bottles, rocks and other missiles.

Around eight neighbourhood beat officers had been engaging with a peaceful gathering in Cheltenham Road earlier last evening, which was a good-spirited event.

Two bottles were thrown at the police, but officers did not respond, in order to try to ensure the mood stayed peaceful.

Police were determined to keep the peace and not be perceived as provocative or inflammatory in any way.

Two community mediators spoke to the group responsible for throwing the bottle to appeal for calm.

A group then splintered off, some of whom donned masks and armed themselves with rocks and bottles, and started heading towards the city centre.

Neighbourhood officers tried to speak to them again but the crowd responded by pelting police with a hail of missiles.

Officers had no choice but to withdraw and seek support from colleagues wearing protective clothing.

There were then clashes between police and protestors, resulting in injuries on both sides.

Police had urged people to stay away from the area whilst we brought the situation under control.

But the crowd grew, from around 250 or so protestors earlier in the evening to more than 400.

Officers from several other forces provided support to Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

Assistant Chief Constable Rod Hansen said: "Our primary concern is to keep people safe.

"Unfortunately, a number of people attended this event intent on inciting violence and causing criminal damage.

"That behaviour cannot be allowed to occur in our communities.

"Throughout the past week, our neighbourhood officers have received the strong message from local residents and traders that they do not want further disruption.

"They wanted calm to be restored to the area so that they could return to their lives and businesses as normal.

"There was further evidence of this earlier last evening in the build-up to the gathering.

"Nevertheless people did still gather.

"It is very disappointing that a number of them were clearly intent on inciting trouble and committing criminal acts of disorder.

"This included breaking down residential walls and removing roof tiles to use as missiles, lighting fires, setting up barricades in the road and daubing graffiti throughout the area.

"We took swift and robust action to try to prevent further violence and damage to property.

"I am satisfied that our tactics were appropriate and proportionate, and feel that the officers involved acted professionally and with great restraint given the threat and personal
danger they faced.

"We will always respect the right of any individual or group to take part in a peaceful protest, and events earlier in the evening were, indeed, good natured.

"But when disorder occurs, we have a duty to the wider community to do everything we can to calm the situation and restore order.

"We have already started the process of studying CCTV footage. We are determined to identify people involved in the disorder last night.

"Where we do that, we will arrest them and bring them before the courts.

"I know the wider community will support our efforts and together we can send the very strong message that violent disorder is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.

"We work very closely with many members of the community, community leaders, interest groups, the commercial sector and residents associations to resolve any
community issues.

"To those who are responsible for committing serious crime, I can only reiterate that we have made 15 arrests already and I anticipate making many more from the video evidence we have obtained and using statements from victims and witnesses.

"I would urge those who seek to cause harm to listen to their community and respect its wishes."

Rick Palmer, Service Director at Bristol City Council, said: "What we have seen tonight is totally unacceptable behaviour which is clearly not supported by local people."

http://www.avonandsomerset.police.u...056&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

[strung out]

police raid on cheltenham road squat in relation to last night

Police have today raided a property in Cheltenham Road, Bristol, in connection with last night's violent disorder.

Officers entered the property at 9.30 this morning.

Police believe there is a direct connection between this property and the disorder, which saw more than 400 people clash with police, resulting in injuries on both sides.

A number of people have been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.

In light of recent events police have worked jointly with Bristol City Council to bring forward the eviction process around that property.

The action has been taken as part of our aim to help the wider community return to peace and normality as quickly as possible following the disruption caused by the disorder,
and also part of our commitment to identify and arrest those suspected of being involved in the recent disturbances.

http://www.avonandsomerset.police.u...056&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

[embree]

Still loads of vans with blues on up by Ashley Road now

 

[MellySingsDoom]

Telepathic Heights being raided now, according to Twitter.

 

[embree]

There's a near complete lack of understanding in tweets/the media etc as to why Bristol's inner city youth are so fucking angry right now. I realise the media are a lost cause but ffs, people tweeting/commenting who are apparently local seem not to have cottoned on to what amounts to some serious discontent. Probably because they're just as much middle class gentrifying twats with no link to long standing residents as those they sneer at for being trusties/hippies.

ffs

 

[Geri]

The intelligentsia are being pushed aside, and they don't like it.

 

[Pickman's model]

The intelligentsia are being pushed aside, and they don't like it.

they're not so intelligentsia

 

[strung out]

there's rioting going on now on stokes croft

 

[Giles]

There's a near complete lack of understanding in tweets/the media etc as to why Bristol's inner city youth are so fucking angry right now. I realise the media are a lost cause but ffs, people tweeting/commenting who are apparently local seem not to have cottoned on to what amounts to some serious discontent. Probably because they're just as much middle class gentrifying twats with no link to long standing residents as those they sneer at for being trusties/hippies.

ffs

Would you like to tell us why they are "so fucking angry" then? I am genuinely interested. It is clearly not just an over-reaction to the opening of a supermarket last weekend.

What are people's grievances in the area?

Giles..

 

[Pickman's model]

there's rioting going on now on stokes croft

what after the 11am raid on telepathic heights - to coincide with the wedding?

 

[Pickman's model]

Would you like to tell us why they are "so fucking angry" then? I am genuinely interested. It is clearly not just an over-reaction to the opening of a supermarket last weekend.

What are people's grievances in the area?

Giles..

you're wilfully ignorant, aren't you?

 

[Pickman's model]

Brilliant. Stokes Croft now a no go area for cyclists.

there's always a silver lining.

 

[stuff_it]

Series of pics from right now in stokes croft

 

[OneStrike]

Daytime rioting would be an escalation iyswim

 

[Pickman's model]

Daytime rioting would be an escalation iyswim

most rioting, away from demos, takes place at night, eg broadwater farm

 

[DaveCinzano]

what after the 11am raid on telepathic heights - to coincide with the wedding?

9.30am raid.

 

[Pickman's model]

9.30am raid.

ah - ian wasn't clear on that point

Cops being pelted with bricks and tiles as they try to evict Telepathic Heights squat. People on roof – cops putting on climbing harnesses. The cops are fucking mental trying this after last night. 20 riot vans. No doubt hoping to get away with it under cover of wedding. Helicopter overhead. Huge police presence. Crowds gathering. The bristol cops are totally out of control. AT PRECISE MOMENT OF ROYAL WEDDING RIOT COPS ATTACK SQUAT

 

[strung out]

 

[Pickman's model]

tbh if that's an accurate reflection of things atm then it's more standing about than rioting

 

[strung out]

yeah, i think it's more a heavy handed eviction than a riot tbh. twitter seems to be calming down now with regards to talk about riots

 

[MellySingsDoom]

Live stream going on at the moment: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/telepathic-heights

 

[Jeff Robinson]

From the other angle:

drunk-o-vision.

 

[Pickman's model]

Live stream going on at the moment: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/telepathic-heights

things don't look too good for yer man on top of the house

 

[ddraig]

not at all
i presume all the other black clad figures are plod?

 

[embree]

No rioting. Lots of standing about spectating.

 

[Pickman's model]

not at all
i presume all the other black clad figures are plod?

yeh, they've got shields

 

[embree]

things don't look too good for yer man on top of the house

There's three up there

 

[Pickman's model]

There's three up there

4 i think

 

[embree]

The intelligentsia are being pushed aside, and they don't like it.

Pretty much it