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| Rashan Charles family calls for calm as vigil is held at east London police station | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The family of Rashan Charles, the 20-year-old who died after being apprehended by police in east London, has appealed for calm after violence erupted on Friday night. | The family of Rashan Charles, the 20-year-old who died after being apprehended by police in east London, has appealed for calm after violence erupted on Friday night. |
| A Charles family spokesman said they understood the community’s anger but called for “dignified” protest. “Burning down homes will not give justice,” they said. | A Charles family spokesman said they understood the community’s anger but called for “dignified” protest. “Burning down homes will not give justice,” they said. |
| The appeal came as protestors gathered outside an east London police station amid heightened tensions over the recent deaths of Charles and another young black man, Edson Da Costa. | The appeal came as protestors gathered outside an east London police station amid heightened tensions over the recent deaths of Charles and another young black man, Edson Da Costa. |
| A vigil for both men is being held on Saturday afternoon at Stoke Newington police station, close to the scene of Friday night’s violent disorder in which riot police were pelted with fireworks and glass bottles. | A vigil for both men is being held on Saturday afternoon at Stoke Newington police station, close to the scene of Friday night’s violent disorder in which riot police were pelted with fireworks and glass bottles. |
| Charles died after being apprehended by officers in a shop in Dalston on 22 July. Video footage appears to show him swallowing a package before being restrained by a police officer. | Charles died after being apprehended by officers in a shop in Dalston on 22 July. Video footage appears to show him swallowing a package before being restrained by a police officer. |
| Five weeks earlier, Da Costa, 25, from East Ham – three miles from Dalston – died after contact with the police. Unanswered questions about the circumstances of both deaths have sparked violent protests. | Five weeks earlier, Da Costa, 25, from East Ham – three miles from Dalston – died after contact with the police. Unanswered questions about the circumstances of both deaths have sparked violent protests. |
| The Metropolitan police said a 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm during Friday night’s disorder, while an officer, who suffered an eye injury, remained fit for duty. | The Metropolitan police said a 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm during Friday night’s disorder, while an officer, who suffered an eye injury, remained fit for duty. |
| Det Supt Claire Crawley said: “The disorder of last night was separate from the peaceful protest at Stoke Newington police station. | Det Supt Claire Crawley said: “The disorder of last night was separate from the peaceful protest at Stoke Newington police station. |
| “Thankfully, nobody was seriously injured, but there was inconvenience to local residents and road users and damage caused to vehicles, a cash machine and a number of windows. We will always support the right to lawful protest but behaviour such as that seen last night cannot be tolerated.” | “Thankfully, nobody was seriously injured, but there was inconvenience to local residents and road users and damage caused to vehicles, a cash machine and a number of windows. We will always support the right to lawful protest but behaviour such as that seen last night cannot be tolerated.” |
| Brian Richardson, 50, of Stand Up To Racism, which has organised Saturday’s vigil, said: “There is understandable concern that racism is a factor in the way black communities are policed.” | Brian Richardson, 50, of Stand Up To Racism, which has organised Saturday’s vigil, said: “There is understandable concern that racism is a factor in the way black communities are policed.” |
| Speaking as the crowd started to build, Richardson said there was particular concern over the number of deaths of black men “at the hands of the police and the way in which these deaths are investigated”. | Speaking as the crowd started to build, Richardson said there was particular concern over the number of deaths of black men “at the hands of the police and the way in which these deaths are investigated”. |
| The police watchdog is investigating both deaths. The Independent Police Complaints Commission said “a number of packages” were removed from Da Costa’s throat by a pathologist. | The police watchdog is investigating both deaths. The Independent Police Complaints Commission said “a number of packages” were removed from Da Costa’s throat by a pathologist. |
| Following the death of Charles last weekend, the Met said he was seen “trying to swallow an object” and that an officer “sought to prevent the man from harming himself”. | Following the death of Charles last weekend, the Met said he was seen “trying to swallow an object” and that an officer “sought to prevent the man from harming himself”. |
| Meanwhile, the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, Diane Abbott, said she was “disgusted” by a Mail Online article that she said misrepresented her comments about Friday night’s disorder. | Meanwhile, the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, Diane Abbott, said she was “disgusted” by a Mail Online article that she said misrepresented her comments about Friday night’s disorder. |
| The Mail claimed Abbott had defended rioters who threw petrol bombs. | The Mail claimed Abbott had defended rioters who threw petrol bombs. |
| Abbott’s statement had said: “The anger and upset at the death of Rashan Charles is understandable. But Rashan’s family have explicitly spoken out against hostile actions. We must respect their wishes and any protests must be peaceful.” | Abbott’s statement had said: “The anger and upset at the death of Rashan Charles is understandable. But Rashan’s family have explicitly spoken out against hostile actions. We must respect their wishes and any protests must be peaceful.” |
| On Saturday, Abbott tweeted: | On Saturday, Abbott tweeted: |
| Today's @MailOnline claims I defended the hurling of petrol bombs at Police! Here's their headline vs what I actually said. I am disgusted pic.twitter.com/z7RtP6GVrd | Today's @MailOnline claims I defended the hurling of petrol bombs at Police! Here's their headline vs what I actually said. I am disgusted pic.twitter.com/z7RtP6GVrd |
| Abbott also took issue with the Sun’s story: | Abbott also took issue with the Sun’s story: |
| New headline in @TheSun is still misleading. Suggests I condone violence but if you read on and they belatedly acknowledge my call for peace pic.twitter.com/xt9XUe409q | New headline in @TheSun is still misleading. Suggests I condone violence but if you read on and they belatedly acknowledge my call for peace pic.twitter.com/xt9XUe409q |