British police are investigating an attack on a protester who was beaten by several men after being dragged into the Chinese consulate in Manchester while protesting against leader Xi Jinping and pro-democracy in Hong Kong.
Sunday’s protest took place on the first day of the Communist Party Congress in Beijing, an event that is expected to give Xi a third term, extending his control over China.
Several protest banners were placed on the consulate’s sidewalk, including one with the phrase “the sky will destroy the Chinese Communist Party”. According to local police, 30 to 40 people were gathered outside the office.
The victim was dragged away by a small group of men who had left the consulate building, police said. He is then kicked and punched by five attackers while he is down. “Due to our fears for the man’s safety, the police intervened and removed the victim from the consulate grounds,” the security forces said.
The video also shows consulate men, some wearing helmets and protective vests, tearing down protest banners.
The victim, in her 30s, suffered physical injuries and remained in hospital overnight for treatment, according to police. No one has been arrested, but a full investigation is underway, said Assistant Police Chief Rob Potts.
Conservative MP Alicia Kearns, head of the British Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, said the government must summon the Chinese ambassador and expel or prosecute any official who has assaulted protesters.
The Chinese consulate in Manchester did not respond to Reuters news agency requests for comment. A spokeswoman for British Prime Minister Liz Truss said the reports were “deeply worrying”.
Wang Wenbin, a representative of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters in Beijing on Monday that he was not aware of the situation, but that the Chinese missions acted in accordance with international diplomatic agreements.
“Chinese embassies and consulates in the UK have always adhered to the laws of their country of residence, and we also expect the British side to facilitate the normal performance of Chinese embassies and consulates’ functions,” Wang said.
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