British police launched an investigation on Oct. 17 after a pro-democracy protest supporting Hong Kong was dragged and beaten on the grounds of the Chinese Consulate in Manchester, England.
The protester, identified only as Bob, said he was trying to stop consulate staff from taking a poster he was holding when he was dragged into the compound and beaten by seven or eight men.
Bob was then rescued by a police officer at the scene.
Downing Street said the incident was “extremely concerning.”
In a statement published on Oct. 17, the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed the men who assaulted Bob had come out of the Chinese Consulate.
“Due to our fears for the safety of the man, officers intervened and removed the victim from the Consulate grounds,” police said, adding that the victim, who’s in his 30s, “suffered several physical injuries and remained in hospital overnight for treatment.”
No arrests have been made yet.
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts said it was clear that “what began as a peaceful protest unexpectedly escalated” and that officers “acted professionally in response to a hostile and dynamic situation to help the victim and ensure he didn’t come to any further harm.”
Detectives from the GMP’s Major Incident Team are carrying out a “full and comprehensive investigation,” Potts said.
“All viable avenues will be explored to bring to justice anyone we believe is culpable for the scenes we saw outside the Chinese Consulate on Sunday,” he said.
It’s unclear whether those involved were consular staff, who enjoy some diplomatic immunity but can potentially be declared persona non grata by the UK government if they break British law.
It was alleged that an older man at the scene, who was filmed kicking and ripping banners and watching Bob being beaten, was Consul General Zheng Xiyuan, according to Luke de Pulford of HK Watch.
In footage circulated online, the man’s face is covered by a surgical mask, and he is only seen from the side and back, but the scarf he is wearing appears to be similar to a scarf worn by Zheng at an event in 2019.
The Chinese Consulate didn’t respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment.
David Alton, Lord Alton of Liverpool, said Chinese Ambassador Zheng Zeguang should clarify whether the man was the consul general.
“If it is, [Home Secretary] Suella Braverman should demand he pack his bags and leave now,” the crossbench peer wrote on Twitter.
Commenting on reports of the incident shortly before the GMP’s statement was published, a spokesman for Downing Street said that the reports were “extremely concerning.”
“I understand Greater Manchester Police responded immediately to the incident, and I am conscious their inquiries are ongoing, so it would be inappropriate for me to comment beyond that,” he said.
“They have stepped up patrols in the area following [the Oct. 16] incident, I understand.”
From The Epoch Times
