By© Muhammad Haque
1620 Hrs GMT
London Thursday 9 August 2007



Police arrested Carole Swords outside a Polling station in the Bigland Street in Shadwell, Tower Hamlets this afternoon. The time was approximately 3.40 PM [1440 Hrs GMT]


‘You’re breaking my arm, Muhammad, they’re breaking my arm… you’re breaking my arm…’ were the words that I could hear as I stood by when more than one ;police officers physically restrained Carole Swords and pushed her into the police van.

The arrest took place in front of dozens of onlookers. I did not see anything until after I heard Carole’s screams and her calling my name out as she was being pushed into the van.

While in the van, she was still complaining that they were hurting her arm.

Seconds beforehand, I could see Carole’s arm being held with force by an officer.

The Police explained that they were using reasonable force.

The Police van left the scene with several police officers in it.

Shortly afterwards, I spoke to Sgt Andy Fittes who said that the arrest was necessary to keep order. He asked me if I had been to any other polling station. He said that no other polling station had so many people like the Bigland Street one. I asked Sgt Andy Fittes if it had been necessary to arrest Carole. He said that she would 'be alright'.


Carole’s co-campaigner for the defence of Council Housing in the East End, Dennis Flood, was one of dozens of people who soon expressed their dismay at the arrest. Dennis Flood said that one of Carole Swords' arms had been giving her bad pain recently and she might have been referring to that when she kept saying that they were hurting 'breaking my arm'.


KHOODEELAAR! No to Crossrail hole plot campaign had conducted a video interview with Carole Swords only a short while before her arrest.


To view that video and a KHOODEELAAR! Profile of Carole Swords, visit the news pages of KHOODEELAAR.com overnight [9-10 August 2007]