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Gorilla-suited pro-EU supporter 'assaulted' at Vote Leave rally | Gorilla-suited pro-EU supporter 'assaulted' at Vote Leave rally |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Police are investigating claims a man in a gorilla suit was punched at a Vote Leave rally attended by Boris Johnson. | Police are investigating claims a man in a gorilla suit was punched at a Vote Leave rally attended by Boris Johnson. |
The man, a Remain campaigner who had been heckling Mr Johnson, claims he was pushed down some steps at the event in Winchester. | The man, a Remain campaigner who had been heckling Mr Johnson, claims he was pushed down some steps at the event in Winchester. |
Hampshire Police are also looking into a separate claim that another Remain campaigner was assaulted at the event. | Hampshire Police are also looking into a separate claim that another Remain campaigner was assaulted at the event. |
A Vote Leave spokesman said "If it happened, it happened after Boris Johnson had left the area." | A Vote Leave spokesman said "If it happened, it happened after Boris Johnson had left the area." |
He added: "We do not condone any violence. These people turned up at the event intent on causing disruption. | |
"When our team left the area, the gorilla was still in good spirits and dancing around and didn't look like he had been punched." | |
The man in the gorilla suit claims he was elbowed in the ribs and punched in the face by a man who was screaming at him. | The man in the gorilla suit claims he was elbowed in the ribs and punched in the face by a man who was screaming at him. |
The other man, local Lib Dem candidate John Romero, described the attitude of Leave supporters as "an absolute disgrace, beyond belief". | The other man, local Lib Dem candidate John Romero, described the attitude of Leave supporters as "an absolute disgrace, beyond belief". |
He claims he was pushed two metres down steps of the historic Buttercross as he tried to heckle Mr Johnson's speech. | He claims he was pushed two metres down steps of the historic Buttercross as he tried to heckle Mr Johnson's speech. |
Police are appealing for witnesses and are examining photographic evidence of both assaults. | Police are appealing for witnesses and are examining photographic evidence of both assaults. |
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