A man in his 30s suffered a broken leg requiring surgery after being run over by a van in Birmingham's Stirchley area on Thursday evening. The incident occurred amid tensions over union flags placed by the anti-migrant group Raise the Colours.
West Midlands Police confirmed the van failed to stop but was later recovered on nearby Prince Road and is being examined. CCTV and social media footage are being reviewed to establish the full circumstances.
Witnesses reported that around 10 people gathered on Pershore Road at about 10pm to remove flags put up earlier by Raise the Colours. Men wearing jumpers with the group's logo arrived and were allegedly aggressive, seemingly wanting to fight.
A resident claimed she was punched by a man in a Raise the Colours hoodie. Video footage showed the same individual ripping a face mask from another woman. The men were heard calling others "a fucking disgrace" and "traitors to your own country."
The resident, a friend of the injured man, said she only realized he had been hit when a Raise the Colours member mentioned it. The victim had been too scared to call out after the van drove off.
Another resident, who asked for anonymity, said men wearing the group's logo confronted them aggressively after three flags were taken down. He noted the logo was also on the van's side. He was pushed, and a pole was wrestled from a companion.
Raise the Colours co-founder Ryan Bridge told the BBC the area was "hijacked by the far-left" and denied knowledge of the crash, adding the group does not condone violence.
Local Labour MP Al Carns wrote to the acting chief constable, citing "dozens of residents" reporting harassment, intimidation, and physical assault by Raise the Colours members. He requested preventive measures.
David Clarke, a 65-year-old management consultant from Stirchley, said he had repeatedly contacted authorities about the group. He described the incident as shocking but unsurprising, noting the group had been a serious threat.
Brummies United Against Racism called on newly elected councillors to take urgent action against Raise the Colours.
