Police officers pulling attackers away from a protester
(Picture: Twitter )MPs have called on the Government to “urgently investigate” after a protester was apparently beaten in the grounds of the Chinese consulate on Sunday.
Police have launched a probe after what appeared to be a pro-Hong Kong democracy demonstration in Manchester.
Video footage shows a protester being dragged inside the consulate’s gates. The man is forced to the ground and assaulted by at least five men while a police officer tries to pull the attackers off him.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, demanded a “full apology from the ambassador” and said the individuals should be expelled from the UK.
Speaking after the incident, the protester told BBC Chinese that "mainlanders" - people from mainland China, as opposed to Hong Kong - came out of the consulate and destroyed their posters.
The activist, named Bob, is believed to have sustained injuries to his head, face, neck, back and waist.
“As we tried to stop them, they dragged me inside, they beat me up," he said, adding that he was then pulled out by the UK police.
“It’s ridiculous. They [the attackers] shouldn’t have done that. We are supposed to have freedom to say whatever we want here [in the UK].”
A spokesperson for the consulate said the protesters had “hung an insulting portrait of the Chinese president at the main entrance”.
“This would be intolerable and unacceptable for any diplomatic and consular missions of any country. Therefore, we condemn this deplorable act with strong indignation and firm opposition,” the spokesperson added.
A spokesperson said Greater Manchester Police was aware of the incident.
“Officers were present and responded immediately to defuse the situation,” they said.
“Enquiries are ongoing at this time to understand the full circumstances.”
