The Government is being pressured to “urgently investigate” following reports that a Hong Kong pro-democracy protester was beaten in the grounds of the Chinese consulate in Manchester.
Reports of the violent incident on Sunday have sparked outrage, with Tory MP Iain Duncan-Smith and shadow foreign secretary David Lammy calling for the Chinese ambassador to be forced to explain what happened.
Scuffles broke out outside the building in Manchester at around 3pm.
Footage posted on social media apparently showed one protester being beaten inside the consulate grounds in Rusholme.
The man appeared to be forced to the ground and assaulted by several men while a police officer attempted to pull the attackers off of him.
The campaigner told BBC Chinese that staff from the building had ripped down pro-democracy posters before he was beaten.
"They dragged me inside, they beat me up," he said.
He went on to say that he was then pulled out by 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)."
The pro-democracy protesters had reportedly organised the peaceful protest outside of the Consulate, in response to the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party.
President Xi Jiping is widely expected to use the congress to announce another five years as party boss and commander-in-chief of the military.
According to the Crown Prosecution Service, UK police are not allowed to enter consular grounds without permission.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "Greater Manchester Police are aware of an incident that took place at around 3pm on Sunday October 16 at the Chinese consulate in Manchester.
"Officers were present and responded immediately to defuse the situation. Inquiries are ongoing at this time to understand the full circumstances.
"A police patrol plan is in place in the area following this incident."
Sir Iain called for the Chinese ambassador to the UK to be made to apologise, and those responsible sent back to China.
Mr Lammy said: "The Foreign Secretary should urgently summon the Chinese ambassador to demand an explanation for the incident.
"The UK stands for freedom, the rule of law and democracy. The quashing of peaceful protest will never be tolerated on our streets."
