Shocking footage has captured the moment a fence was hurled at a man who was punched and kicked after fighting broke out during a protest in Manchester city centre this weekend.

Hundreds of people descended on Piccadilly Gardens for a demonstration entitled ‘Stand Up For Your Country: Enough is Enough’ on Saturday (August 3). A counter rally was also attended by 350 demonstrators earlier in the day. There were tense scenes as the two groups were kept apart by rows of police officers.

Video footage captured by the Manchester Evening News later showed scuffles breaking out in the Gardens. Metal fences were seen being hurled while punches were thrown by a number of people in the melee.

 

Another shocking clip then emerged, and appeared to show a black man being attacked by a large group of men, one of whom is seen wrapped in an England flag. In the footage, the group can be seen surrounding the man. He is then grabbed by another male, who appears to wrestle him to the ground before kicking him in the head before throwing a punch at him.

As the man gets back on his feet, the other man appears to aim another kick at him while another man can be seen throwing a metal railing in his direction. Several other men then surround him in the relentless attack. Some appear to push and throw punches at the man as he attempts to defend himself before falling to the ground once more.

A number of kicks and punches then appear to be directed at the man before he gets to his feet. Two police officers then intervene and try to separate the violence.

More officers then storm in, tackling the black man who was initially attacked to the ground. While police warn the crowd to ‘move back’, a number of people within the crowd can be seen filming the incident on mobile phones.

Greater Manchester Police has since confirmed that they are conducting enquiries into the incident. The force said that a man, now understood to be the man being attacked, was initially arrested on suspicion of breach of the peace but was later de-arrested after ‘further information came to light’.

Four others have been arrested in connection with the incident and remain in custody to be questioned. A number of lines of enquiry are being pursued.

A GMP spokesperson said: “Officers responding to an incident in Piccadilly Gardens on Saturday made an arrest after witnessing an altercation between a man and a larger group. After initially arresting one man on suspicion of breach of the peace, he was subsequently de-arrested when further information came to light.

“Four people have since been arrested in connection with the incident and remain in custody for questioning. Enquiries are ongoing.”

The force revealed that officers have now made nine arrests in connection with the city centre protest. A further fourteen arrests were made as protests and counter-protesters gathered in Bolton.

The arrests were made in connection to offences for being drunk and disorderly, possession of a weapon, assault, criminal damage, and violent disorder, Greater Manchester Police said.

GMP’s Chief Constable Stephen Watson said some people attended the demonstrations ‘with the intent of causing trouble and breaking the law’. He has today issued a stark warning over the scenes of violent disorder – vowing that ‘justice will be forthwith’.

The trouble came amid escalating violence across the UK as far-right supporters held demonstrations in a number of towns and cities. Across the country, more than 300 people have been arrested since the violence broke out last Tuesday.