Appeal to find 12 people after clashes at London protests
Police have released CCTV images of 12 people they want to speak to following violent clashes at protests in London over the past few weeks.
At least 100 officers have been injured policing Black Lives Matter demonstrations and far-right counter-protests since late May.
The protests were sparked by the killing of George Floyd, a black man, in the US state of Minnesota when a police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes.
Three police horses and a police dog also suffered injuries, and almost 300 people have been arrested.
The Met has previously released 48 images of those thought to have been involved in criminality, and on Saturday published the 12 additional photos.
The individuals are suspected of offences from racial abuse and serious violence against members of the public and police officers, and also violent disorder.
Commander Alex Murray said the force had seen a positive response to the appeal from the public.
He said: ‘The vast majority of people who have attended the recent protests made their voices heard, and then left.
‘However, a minority have attended with the sole purpose of attacking, abusing or violently confronting fellow protesters, detracting from the cause of their protest.
‘We saw violence against police officers including verbal and racial abuse which is absolutely appalling.
‘They do not come to work to be subjected to this. They come to work to keep Londoners and their families safe.
‘Similarly, those people who wanted to have their voices heard and protest should not be subject to violence from others.’
Commander Murray said while investigations are underway to identify those they suspect of being involved in these offences, they ask members of the public to make it clear that they also will not tolerate such behaviour by helping them identify anyone they recognise in the pictures.
He also praised those who had already helped identify people from the images.
Commander Murray added: ‘Thank you also to those people who have actively challenged other protesters to stop them being violent and abusive.’
The protests were sparked by the killing of George Floyd, a black man, in the US state of Minnesota when a police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes.
Three police horses and a police dog also suffered injuries, and almost 300 people have been arrested.
The Met has previously released 48 images of those thought to have been involved in criminality, and on Saturday published the 12 additional photos.
The individuals are suspected of offences from racial abuse and serious violence against members of the public and police officers, and also violent disorder.
Commander Alex Murray said the force had seen a positive response to the appeal from the public.
He said: ‘The vast majority of people who have attended the recent protests made their voices heard, and then left.
‘However, a minority have attended with the sole purpose of attacking, abusing or violently confronting fellow protesters, detracting from the cause of their protest.
‘We saw violence against police officers including verbal and racial abuse which is absolutely appalling.
‘They do not come to work to be subjected to this. They come to work to keep Londoners and their families safe.
‘Similarly, those people who wanted to have their voices heard and protest should not be subject to violence from others.’
Commander Murray said while investigations are underway to identify those they suspect of being involved in these offences, they ask members of the public to make it clear that they also will not tolerate such behaviour by helping them identify anyone they recognise in the pictures.
He also praised those who had already helped identify people from the images.
Commander Murray added: ‘Thank you also to those people who have actively challenged other protesters to stop them being violent and abusive.’
