Moment Black Lives Matter protesters tear down statue of 17th century slave trader

Black Lives Matter protesters have torn down a statue of 17th century slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol and dumped it in the harbour – as demonstrations continue to sweep Britain following the death of George Floyd in America.

Footage shows demonstrators heaving the metal monument down with ropes before cheering and dancing around it, with many placing their knees on the fallen statue as it lay on the ground. 

The statue, which had been in place since 1895, has been a subject of controversy in recent years. The most recent petition to remove it garnered more than 11,000 signatures. 

An estimated 4,000 protesters had gathered in Bristol today to march through the city. Avon and Somerset police have said that although the protests are a breach in lockdown regulations, they understand why people want to gather.

Huge crowds of Black Lives Matter protesters have also gathered outside the US embassy in Battersea, London as rallies continue across the UK. Demonstrations are also being held in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The Edward Colston statue has been pulled down by Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters in Bristol. Colston was a 17th century slave trader who has numerous landmarks named after him in Bristol

The Edward Colston statue has been pulled down by Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters in Bristol. Colston was a 17th century slave trader who has numerous landmarks named after him in Bristol

The Edward Colston statue has been pulled down by Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters in Bristol. Colston was a 17th century slave trader who has numerous landmarks named after him in Bristol

BLM protesters in Bristol city centre. The Edward Colston statue has been pulled down by Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters in Bristol. Colston was a 17th century slave trader who has numerous landmarks named after him

BLM protesters in Bristol city centre. The Edward Colston statue has been pulled down by Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters in Bristol. Colston was a 17th century slave trader who has numerous landmarks named after him

A protester stands atop the fallen statue of Bristol-born English merchant, philanthropist, slave trader, and Member of Parliament Edward Colston

A protester stands atop the fallen statue of Bristol-born English merchant, philanthropist, slave trader, and Member of Parliament Edward Colston

London: Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration outside the US Embassy in London on June 7, organised to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement

London: Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration outside the US Embassy in London on June 7, organised to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement

Protesters pull down a statue of Edward Colston during a Black Lives Matter protest rally in College Green, Bristol

Protesters pull down a statue of Edward Colston during a Black Lives Matter protest rally in College Green, Bristol

An estimated 4,000 protesters had gathered in Bristol today to march through the city to protest against racism and discrimination. Avon and Somerset police have said that although the protests are a breach in lockdown regulations, they understand why people want to gather

An estimated 4,000 protesters had gathered in Bristol today to march through the city to protest against racism and discrimination. Avon and Somerset police have said that although the protests are a breach in lockdown regulations, they understand why people want to gather

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it is ‘undoubtedly a risk’ that there will be an increase in coronavirus cases following the protests.

He told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday he supported the protesters’ arguments, but urged: ‘Please don’t gather in groups of more than six people because there is also a pandemic that we must address and control.

‘And so we’ve got to make the argument, we’ve got to make further progress, on top of the significant progress that has been made in recent years, but we’ve got to do it in a way that’s safe and controls the virus.’

Today’s protests are the latest in a series of rallies in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, who died after a police officer knelt on his neck in Minneapolis.

Yesterday a police officer suffered a broken collar bone, broken ribs and a collapsed lung after falling from a horse at a London protest. 

BLM protesters in Bristol city centre. The Edward Colston statue has been pulled down by Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters

BLM protesters in Bristol city centre. The Edward Colston statue has been pulled down by Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters

The statue of Edward Colston is rolled along the street. The statuewas  pulled down by Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters

The statue of Edward Colston is rolled along the street. The statuewas  pulled down by Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters

The mounted officer is still receiving treatment in hospital but is likely to be off duty for four months while she recovers, the Metropolitan Police Federation revealed.

She was flung violently into traffic lights outside Downing Street in central London after a protester hurled a bike and other missiles at her horse, causing the animal to bolt riderless back down Whitehall.

Federation Chairman Ken Marsh the officer thrown from the horse is ‘a hero’.  

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick has said assaults on officers at an anti-racism rally were ‘shocking and completely unacceptable’ ahead of more demonstrations planned across the UK for today. 

She said 14 officers were injured during clashes with a minority of protesters in central London on Saturday following a peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstration.

Middlesbrough: People take a knee as they demonstrate during a protest in Middlesbrough town centre to show support for George Floyd on June 7

Middlesbrough: People take a knee as they demonstrate during a protest in Middlesbrough town centre to show support for George Floyd on June 7

Edinburgh: A man kneels during a Black Lives Matter protest in Edinburgh today, following the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis

Edinburgh: A man kneels during a Black Lives Matter protest in Edinburgh today, following the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis

Bristol: People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in College Green, Bristol, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis

Bristol: People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in College Green, Bristol, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis

Manchester: Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it is 'undoubtedly a risk' that there will be an increase in coronavirus cases following protests

Manchester: Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it is ‘undoubtedly a risk’ that there will be an increase in coronavirus cases following protests

Middlesbrough: Protesters kneel in Middlesbrough, Teesside today outside the Mima Art Gallery, Central Square

Middlesbrough: Protesters kneel in Middlesbrough, Teesside today outside the Mima Art Gallery, Central Square

Middlesbrough: Demonstrators hold signs saying 'black lives matter' and 'defund the white system' in Teesside today

Middlesbrough: Demonstrators hold signs saying ‘black lives matter’ and ‘defund the white system’ in Teesside today

The force said 14 people had been arrested after tensions escalated while Dame Cressida said in a statement that there was ‘no place for violence’ in the capital.

‘I am deeply saddened and depressed that a minority of protesters became violent towards officers in central London yesterday evening,’ Dame Cressida said.

‘This led to 14 officers being injured, in addition to 13 hurt in earlier protests this week.

‘We have made a number of arrests and justice will follow. The number of assaults is shocking and completely unacceptable.

‘I know many who were seeking to make their voices heard will be as appalled as I am by those scenes. There is no place for violence in our city.

‘Officers displayed extreme patience and professionalism throughout a long and difficult day, and I thank them for that.’ 

Sadiq Khan said that while the majority of protesters were peaceful, pockets of violence was ‘simply not acceptable’.

Bristol: A woman wears a #BML face mask at a demonstration in College Green, Bristol, in memory of George Floyd

Bristol: A woman wears a #BML face mask at a demonstration in College Green, Bristol, in memory of George Floyd

Middlesbrough: A peaceful protest in Middlesbrough, Teesside today outside of Mima Art Gallery, Central Square

Middlesbrough: A peaceful protest in Middlesbrough, Teesside today outside of Mima Art Gallery, Central Square

In a statement, the London Mayor said: ‘I stand with you and share your anger and pain. George Floyd’s brutal killing must lead to immediate and lasting change in countries, cities, police services and institutions everywhere. We must root out racism wherever it is found.

‘The vast majority of protesters in London were peaceful. But this vital cause was badly let down by a tiny minority who turned violent and threw glass bottles and lit flares, endangering other protesters and injuring police officers.

‘This is simply not acceptable, will not be tolerated and will not win the lasting and necessary change we desperately need to see.’

Dame Cressida urged protesters to find ‘another way’ of making their voices heard, rather than descending on the capital’s streets amid the coronavirus crisis.

‘I would urge protesters to please find another way to make your views heard which does not involve coming out on the streets of London, risking yourself, your families and officers as we continue to face this deadly virus,’ she said.

Police were out in significant numbers for the marches through London on Saturday, including outside the US Embassy, in protest against police brutality following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Demonstrations were carried out peacefully for much of the afternoon but disturbances began breaking out at around 6pm outside Downing Street.

Workmen cleaning graffiti in Parliament Square, in the aftermath of a Black Lives Matter protest rally in memory of George Floyd

Workmen cleaning graffiti in Parliament Square, in the aftermath of a Black Lives Matter protest rally in memory of George Floyd

A sign reading Hate Kills, Love Heals hung around the statue of Abraham Lincoln in Parliament Square, in the aftermath of a Black Lives Matter protest rally in memory of George Floyd

A sign reading Hate Kills, Love Heals hung around the statue of Abraham Lincoln in Parliament Square, in the aftermath of a Black Lives Matter protest rally in memory of George Floyd

People gesture during a Black Lives Matter protest in Edinburgh, following the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis

People gesture during a Black Lives Matter protest in Edinburgh, following the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis

Scuffles broke out when objects were thrown towards officers wearing protective gear, with mounted police called in to drive some of the demonstrators back along Whitehall.

Video footage appeared to show an officer colliding with a traffic light before their horse ran through a crowd of protesters, sending them scattering.

The Metropolitan Police later confirmed a female officer fell from the horse and had been taken to hospital. Her injuries are not life-threatening.

Metropolitan Police Federation chairman Ken Marsh said the officer had ‘quite nasty’ injuries, telling BBC Breakfast: ‘She’s stable – she has some quite nasty injuries which she sustained. And the horse is fine.’

He added: ‘I think my colleagues – as always – were absolute heroes… the abuse they took. They tried to facilitate the public behaviour… I had nothing but pride in what I saw. It was horrendous seeing my colleagues being injured.’

Photographs showed the officer being treated at the scene as she lay injured on the pavement, while other images showed bikes being thrown at horses.

Officers are ‘investigating the full circumstances’ of the officer’s fall but the force said the horse made its own way back to its stables nearby.

Elsewhere on Saturday, boxing heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua used crutches to join people on a peaceful protest in his home town of Watford.

Many people wore face masks and social-distancing measures were encouraged during events in Manchester, Cardiff, Sheffield and Newcastle, among other cities.