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brian haw assaulted and then arrested this morning in parl square

rikki | 04.03.2009 11:41 | SOCPA | Repression

brian was assaulted by a worker putting up barriers in parliament square this morning. his hand was bleeding after the attack, but rather than arrest the culprit, or even (in case of doubt) both, they've instead arrested brian, supposedly for the theft of a key! solicitors are trying to find his whereabouts.

normally on wednesday mornings, barriers are placed along the pavements around parliament - this is some sort of security operation around prime minister's question time, although what it is supposed to actually achieve is anybody's guess.

this particular wednesday of course, gordon brown is in america, so it would seem even more pointless.

normally the barriers are placed without fuss, but this morning there was some sort of altercation, and one of the workers assaulted brian, causing an injury to the hand that brian burnt when he saved a tamil protester from burning himself alive last week (see story at  http://london.indymedia.org.uk/articles/783).

although brian's hand was quite visibly bleeding after the attack, police arrived at the scene and arrested brian, letting the the attacker get away. witnesses say that they feel brian was arrested to cover up the assault.

a solicitor from bindman's is presently trying to find out which police station brian has been taken to, and whether he has been formally charged with anything.

rikki
- e-mail: rikkiindymedia[@t]gmail(d0t)com
- Homepage: http://www.socpa-movie.blogspot.com

Additions

UPDATE

04.03.2009 21:47

brian was held for six hours at west end police station. during that time he was not interviewed. he refused to sign bail but was thrown out anyway and was taken by ambulance to have his injuries recorded and checked. his back is in a bad way after being kneeled on by one large cop. eight police were involved in the actual arrest, and even some cops ran over from parliament to join in (something they rarely do - they just stood by and watched when a 4-year old child fall out of a bus the other day!).

witnesses have told me that brian became involved in an altercation with one of the workers putting up barriers (for the non-existent prime minister's question time). the worker threatened brian saying 'i'm going to burn you down', and he ripped the dressing from brian's burnt hand, which caused the open wound to start bleeding. after being attacked, brian snatched a key used to lock barriers together, to stop the barriers being put in front of his display. police came over and grabbed brian, throwing him to the ground and pinning him down.

they took a witness report from the worker, but ignored brian's allegations of assault despite his clearly injured hand. they then said they'd take a statement from him at the station. he was taken to west end central, and held there for six hours. after six hours, an evaluation has to be made by police over whether they can hold him longer. during that time they had made no attempt to take a statement or interview him. they bailed brian on suspicion of theft, assault and obstruction.

after discussions with his solicitor from bindman's, brian refused bail, saying that the police had any evidence they needed, and should hold him and take him to court in the morning if they think they have a proper case against him. he refused to sign the bail form. an ambulance then took him to hospital.

brian is taking legal advice over his position. it has happened several times before to parliament square campaigners that police arrest and hold them over some incident, then bail them, sometimes more than once, and finally drop all charges. it is a pattern of harassment that is often repeated. by not signing the bail, campaigners are hoping to test this technique legally. brian clearly offered to have the matter dealt with expeditiously, and the police don't seem to have any good reason not to take him up on this. the bail form could well be legally unenforceable under these circumstances.

cctv will no doubt show who actually behaved threateningly, and how brian incurred his injuries.

rikki


Comments

Hide the following 8 comments

Worker?workers do useful jobs, whats useful about this guys job?,most

04.03.2009 12:50

people wouldnt want to do such a stupid "job", but yeh we are often forced to in this undemocratic system, though if we have to do it most of us will be civil, any good company would shun or blank this guy for a decent time,his union or workplace should.Brian Haw is a man worthy of respect.

Green Syndicalist


Workers do useful jobs, whats useful about this guys job?,most people wouldnt

04.03.2009 13:19

want to do such a stupid "job", but yeh we are often forced to in this undemocratic system, though if we have to do it most of us will be civil, any good company would shun or blank this guy for a decent time,his union or workplace should.Brian Haw is a man worthy of respect.

Site worker


Green Syndicalist

04.03.2009 15:54



Rant rant rant and never make any fucking sense!

A Nutter
- Homepage: http://blah blah blah blah blah blah blah


Same ol same ol.

04.03.2009 19:51

Anon,

Why don't you throw the towel in fella.

What you say has been said a thousand times before and a thousand times before its been dismissed.

But just to go through the same ole tired routine let me enlighten you.

So what that you pay your taxes, who f*****g cares. Lots of people pay their taxes. Paying your taxes does not give you special privelage to start poisoning the world with your juvenile crap. Paying your taxes gets people killed dontcha know. Paying taxes starts wars. Paying your taxes gives government the funds they need to pass billions into the hands of those private individuals that have brought this nation to its knees of late. Paying your taxes gives you no rights whatsoever.

So, STFU. (STFU = Shut The F**k Up).

Why don't you just write what you mean. Here, i'll do it for you.

"Why doesn't that bloody Brian Haw just bugger off. Parlaiment Square looks like a dump. I don't have to look at it but even knowing its there makes me want to fling myself out of my window in disgust. I can't cope. Don't those people know that when the government go to war its our duty to obey. I'm sick of hearing about these people that remind me what a coward I am. I can't stand it. I supported the war because it was a sure thing but now I know I got it wrong I just can't think clearly and etc etc."

Give up Anon, throw the towel in.

Oh and by the way if your a police officer then I, for one, am looking forward to meeting you in April. Apparently, for you, its going to be truly s**t.

A.non


tax payers

04.03.2009 22:22

One right that paying taxes gives you is ultimately the ability to vote for the party that chooses to stop giving food to persistent non-workers who just eat up resources and money by bugging the police. Not only do we have to feed them, we have to pay so there are more police to manage them.
I for one will always vote for the party who come down hardest on soap dodgers

plaight


Plaight, we need you.

05.03.2009 11:41

Dear Plaight,
at last someone speaking sense on Indymedia. We would love you to come and work at the Daily Mail. We woulds love to hear your views on immigration, the arms trade etc. It's people like you who put the 'Great' into Britain... soap dodgers, political correct brigade, political correctness gone mad, pay my taxes, I've got nothing to hide, taking our jobs, swamped, I'm not racist but, I've worked from the age of 16, support our troops, celebrate English day, clog dancing, make sure the flag is the right way up, bet they read the Guardian, overload, overload,get a job, get a job... etc. etc. etc. etc....

Daily Mail Recruitment Officer


Brian's campaign is everyone's campaign

06.03.2009 14:52

I don't suppose you'll get a chance to read this Brian but if you do, I just want to say you're amazing and doing a fantastic thing that most of us don't have the balls and persistance to do. I really hope your hand and back get well soon and that springtime brings a little warmth to your life in the square. I met you once and was overwhelmed by your warmth and your passion for justice and peace. x

anon


Please, Help the Poor guy out!

02.04.2009 15:11

Met Brian 4 years ago on visiting London from Chicago, u. s. for first time. He was the highlight of our trip. What an inspiration! We do a weekly anti-war event here. Get little help from the masses that pass us each saturday. Same with poor Brian. We bonded very quickly. Spent 2 hours, twice with this brave man. Our leaving his site that March, 2003 was very emotional. Often tell people of him. Saying if Brian can make these sacrafices, we can all do more.

So four years later same #$%^ shit. PLEASE, HELP THE POOR GUY OUT. We feel so helpless 4,000 miles away. But you people can get down there to Stand Up Against War with him. Also Stand Up for the right of people to Protest. Wish often we could spend some more time with this great man. You people can. Please help the poor guy and make a statement like him against all this insanity.

Much love and Solidarity to Brian and his supporters,

Beth & Fred

Fred M