Police issue new appeal for help as investigations into Bristol riot continue
Eighteen photos have now been released of people the police want to trace
Last updated 25th Mar 2021
More footage has been released as the police try and identify people involved in Sunday's (22/03) rioting in Bristol.
Violence broke out outside Bridewell police station last weekend at the end of a protest against the Police and Crime Bill, which could limit the right to protest.
Thirty police officers were injured and several police vehicles set alight. Shortly afterwards Avon and Somerset Police said two of their officers had suffered broken bones and one a punctured lung, but they have now confirmed that was not the case.
To date nine people have been arrested in connection with the events, which drew global attention and national condemnation.
The footage, which you can see here, shows a man attempting to set a police van on fire, while an officer sits in the drivers' seat.
A still image of the man has also been added to Avon and Somerset Police's online gallery of suspects, which you can see here.
The officer, who was inside the van, has described first hearing on the radio how colleagues were being injured outside the Bridewell police station.
“I was aware from the radio that my colleagues were under attack outside the front of Bridewell police station where damage had been caused…I could hear screaming and shouting from the officers as they were being attacked – a call was made for vehicles to be used to assist officers.
“The only way to protect my colleagues was to place the vehicle across, side on, in front of them to offer protection.
"There were glass bottles, rocks as big as fists, pallets, fences and other objects strewn across the road and being used against the police.
“Whilst in the vehicle, a number of people attempted to gain entry to it, however the vehicle was bolted shut.
“I was aware of the smell of burning and CCTV reported that people were attempting to set the vehicle tyres alight, with me still in it, and so I began to prepare to decamp the vehicle.”
Chief Superintendent Carolyn Belafonte, who is overseeing the investigation into what happened, said: “This officer’s account is just one of many we’ve gathered from our colleagues at the scene of this terrifying incident.
"It’s upsetting to hear how colleagues feared for their lives that night and it strengthens our resolve to bring all those responsible to justice.
“Our investigation is continuing at pace but it is painstaking work.
“Our online gallery, which currently has 18 images within it, has been viewed more than 80,000 times since it was launched – and we’ve received more than 200 calls and around 280 evidential submissions from the public to date. This is a phenomenal response and we’re grateful for every piece of information.
“I would ask people to look at the latest image we have released and call us if you know who it is – or you can provide information via a dedicated form on our website.
WATCH: We put together this special video report the day after the riot. Note the number of officers injured has now risen to 30.