Met Police Arrest 2 Men Over Birmingham Hit-and-Run as 4,000 Officers Guard London Protests
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 16
Met Police Arrest 2 Men Over Birmingham Hit-and-Run as 4,000 Officers Guard London Protests
6 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 16
Two men were arrested near Euston Station on suspicion of grievous bodily harm after arriving in London for the Unite the Kingdom protest, police said.
The arrests stem from a Thursday night hit-and-run on Mayfield Road in Stirchley, Birmingham, where a man in his 30s suffered a broken leg and needed surgery with a screw inserted in his shin.
West Midlands Police said the driver failed to stop; officers later recovered the vehicle and reviewed CCTV and social-media footage.
The crash followed angry scenes on nearby Pershore Road after members of the Raise the Colours group arrived to put up flags, with videos showing arguments with local residents.
The case comes as London deploys more than 4,000 officers for Saturday's Unite the Kingdom march and a pro-Palestinian demonstration, while local officials in Birmingham urge calm and community cohesion.
Is a violent hit-and-run after a flag dispute a sign of political extremism spilling onto Britain's streets?
How are far-right groups exploiting legal loopholes to intimidate communities under the guise of patriotism?