Police Deploy Batons and Mounted Units in Bristol Protest Confrontation
Mounted police and officers armed with batons forcefully pushed back hundreds of counter-protesters who blocked the route of a Bristol Patriots march through Bristol city centre today. The confrontation brought Broadmead to a standstill and led to six arrests as tensions flared between the two groups.
Clash in the City Centre
The incident unfolded when counter-demonstrators, comprising a coalition of anti-racism and anti-fascism groups, spent hours attempting to obstruct a demonstration by the Bristol Patriots. The Patriots had advertised an "anti-extremism" march starting from the Cenotaph, proceeding around Broadmead and Castle Park, and returning to the Cenotaph.
Approximately 40 marchers departed under heavy police escort at around 12:20 pm, but the event quickly escalated as counter-protesters lined the route along Quay Street to Union Street. At Union Street, in the heart of Broadmead, the marchers and their police escort found themselves hemmed in from both directions by a dense crowd of counter-demonstrators.
Police Intervention with Force
Mounted officers were deployed to clear a path, shoving counter-protesters away from the junction of Union Street and the Horsefair, outside the British Heart Foundation charity shop. Along the Horsefair, additional counter-protesters positioned themselves directly in front of the march, steadfastly refusing to move, which prompted further intervention.
Officers on foot withdrew their batons and, following multiple warnings, repeatedly struck masked demonstrators on the legs to compel them to disperse. Shouts of "back, back" echoed as police worked to regain control. The march pressed on towards Cabot Circus, but before reaching the main entrance at Broadmead, hundreds more counter-protesters obstructed the route, forcing another halt.
March Redirected and Arrests Made
Ultimately, police opted to reverse the Bristol Patriots march, sending them back along their original route down the Horsefair and Union Street towards the Cenotaph. Officers at Cabot Circus attempted to contain the crowd of counter-protesters during this manoeuvre.
Police confirmed they had made multiple arrests, with six individuals detained for various suspected offences ranging from public order violations and anti-social behaviour to assault and violent disorder. A police spokesperson stated, "During the march, officers experienced a number of points of resistance, with disorder breaking out between the two-sides and items being thrown at officers."
Official Statements and Aftermath
Neighbourhood Policing Inspector John Shaddick explained, "Today's protests in Bristol were closely planned for and actively managed by our policing teams. Our priority throughout was clear: to facilitate the right to peaceful protest whilst keeping the public, businesses, and participants safe." He added, "There were periods of disruption caused by a small number of individuals. Where behaviour crossed the line into disorder, officers acted proportionately and used appropriate force to quickly regain control and prevent further harm."
The march made it as far as Penn Street before a further standstill occurred. To ensure a safe conclusion, officers redirected the group back through the route towards the Cenotaph. Once both the protest and counter-protest arrived back at the Cenotaph, the groups dispersed, and normality was resumed at 3:26 pm.
The police spokesperson emphasised that additional resources were utilised, including the use of batons and horses from the mounted unit to push back crowds, in a proportionate manner to ensure safety and keep the groups apart.
