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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Policing of violence at Cardiff Gaza protest 'poor' | Policing of violence at Cardiff Gaza protest 'poor' |
| (1 day later) | |
| Police have been criticised over their handling of a protest march in Cardiff after video footage emerged of violence erupting during it. | Police have been criticised over their handling of a protest march in Cardiff after video footage emerged of violence erupting during it. |
| Bar stools and glasses were thrown as 1,500 people opposed to Israel's military action in Gaza took part. | Bar stools and glasses were thrown as 1,500 people opposed to Israel's military action in Gaza took part. |
| MP Stephen Doughty has raised concerns and a Newport councillor said South Wales Police's policing was "poor". | MP Stephen Doughty has raised concerns and a Newport councillor said South Wales Police's policing was "poor". |
| Two men were arrested but neither were from the rally and the force later defended its operation. | Two men were arrested but neither were from the rally and the force later defended its operation. |
| Ch Insp Dan Howe said: "The police were there to ensure the safety of everyone involved and the vast majority of people behaved in a calm and sensible way, however extra officers attended to provide reassurance to the community. | Ch Insp Dan Howe said: "The police were there to ensure the safety of everyone involved and the vast majority of people behaved in a calm and sensible way, however extra officers attended to provide reassurance to the community. |
| "Unfortunately not all of those in Cardiff yesterday afternoon were well-behaved and violence broke out with a small minority which disrupted an otherwise peaceful demonstration. | "Unfortunately not all of those in Cardiff yesterday afternoon were well-behaved and violence broke out with a small minority which disrupted an otherwise peaceful demonstration. |
| He added: "Disruption was kept to a minimum and the rally went on to conclude peacefully and we are grateful for the support we received from the local community." | He added: "Disruption was kept to a minimum and the rally went on to conclude peacefully and we are grateful for the support we received from the local community." |
| Cardiff South and Penarth MP Stephen Doughty, who took part in the rally organised by organisations including Cardiff Stop the War Coalition, had earlier raised concerns over the policing. | |
| Mr Doughty told BBC Wales: "I've had a number of conversations with the police about the events and I'm assured the police are investigating the matter thoroughly. | Mr Doughty told BBC Wales: "I've had a number of conversations with the police about the events and I'm assured the police are investigating the matter thoroughly. |
| 'Unpleasant things' | 'Unpleasant things' |
| "There were police and PCSOs and they were monitoring the situation. | "There were police and PCSOs and they were monitoring the situation. |
| "I was taking part in the march and I witnessed the incident on St Mary Street. | "I was taking part in the march and I witnessed the incident on St Mary Street. |
| "The march itself was very peaceful but there were some unpleasant things being said from outside and I think some guys were throwing things from outside the Walkabout. | "The march itself was very peaceful but there were some unpleasant things being said from outside and I think some guys were throwing things from outside the Walkabout. |
| "I didn't witness the incident on Mill Lane but I spoke to some people straight after saying glasses had been thrown. I phoned the police immediately." | "I didn't witness the incident on Mill Lane but I spoke to some people straight after saying glasses had been thrown. I phoned the police immediately." |
| Newport councillor Majid Rahman said the marchers heard racist chants as they made their way past Walkabout on St Mary Street before the violence erupted on Mill Lane. | Newport councillor Majid Rahman said the marchers heard racist chants as they made their way past Walkabout on St Mary Street before the violence erupted on Mill Lane. |
| "A lot of marchers were injured but because there was no police presence, the people who hurled glasses, tables and chairs got away with it," he said. | "A lot of marchers were injured but because there was no police presence, the people who hurled glasses, tables and chairs got away with it," he said. |
| CCTV footage | CCTV footage |
| "South Wales Police were poor - it was a lack of presence. | "South Wales Police were poor - it was a lack of presence. |
| "When I got back to City Hall, I saw two police officers then a van of police officers turned up, but by then it was too late because we were back safe at City Hall. | "When I got back to City Hall, I saw two police officers then a van of police officers turned up, but by then it was too late because we were back safe at City Hall. |
| "The response was inadequate, it was poor and they need to answer for this." | "The response was inadequate, it was poor and they need to answer for this." |
| After the rally a man, 22, from Caerphilly, was arrested for assault and a 33-year-old man from Pontypridd for affray. | After the rally a man, 22, from Caerphilly, was arrested for assault and a 33-year-old man from Pontypridd for affray. |
| Neither were from the rally group, police said. | Neither were from the rally group, police said. |
| Both have been bailed pending further inquiries and police are speaking to witnesses and examining footage of the event. | Both have been bailed pending further inquiries and police are speaking to witnesses and examining footage of the event. |