Teenager from Manchester becomes 83rd person arrested after Bristol Kill the Bill riot

He's been detained on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and assaulting an emergency worker among other things

Forty-four police officers were injured in the riot but some were accused of using excessive force
Author: James DiamondPublished 8th Nov 2021

A 19-year-old man from Manchester has become the 83rd person arrested in connection with Bristol's Kill the Bill riot in March.

The man, who's not been named, has been detained on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, riot, assault of an emergency worker, criminal damage and theft.

Dozens of police officers were injured and hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage caused, when a protest against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill on 21 March turned violent.

Bridewell Police Station in Bristol City Centre was besieged with its front windows smashed up, while several police vehicles were set alight.

WATCH: Our report on the riot recorded on March 22. (Note this video includes references to a police statement on injuries, which was later retracted by officers as incorrect).

Last month another man who took part was found guilty of trying to set a police van on fire while an officer sat inside it.

Ryan Roberts, who's 25, led chants of ACAB: All cops are bastards" outside the police station, threw cans and bottles at officers and allegedly verbally abused them, kicked them and smashed in the police station windows.

In his defence, Mr Roberts said he got "carried away".

He is one of 42 people who have been charged in connection with the riot to date.

Avon and Somerset Police initially claimed two of their officers suffered broken bones while being assaulted but later retracted that and apologised saying it wasn't the case.

Katheryn Hobbs, a legal observer trained to monitor police behaviour and advise protesters during demonstrations, said she witnessed multiple incidents of police violence on March 21.

Ms Hobbs said that after walking with protesters through the city, there was a "sharp escalation" in policing tactics when officers began to line up outside the police station.

She said she had witnessed officers "shoving, kicking, hitting, pulling and pushing the crowd back".

Ms Hobbs said she gave first aid to 25 or 30 people during the evening, many of whom had been pepper sprayed, while others had cuts and bruises.

She said she saw multiple incidents of "blading" by police, when an officer brings the sharp edge of a riot shield down on a protester.

"I certainly witnessed police officers doing that to several people seated on the floor, which is extremely dangerous."

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