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Owen Jones attacked outside London pub Owen Jones attacked outside London pub
(about 3 hours later)
The Guardian columnist and activist Owen Jones has been physically assaulted in London while celebrating his 34th birthday with friends. The Guardian columnist and activist Owen Jones has been physically assaulted in London while celebrating his 35th birthday with friends.
In an attack he said was “a blatant premeditated assault”, Jones said he was kicked, punched and thrown to the ground by a group of men in the early hours of Saturday morning. In an attack he called “a blatant premeditated assault”, Jones said he was kicked, punched and thrown to the ground by a group of men in the early hours of Saturday morning.
On Twitter, Jones wrote: “Six of us left the pub at 3am and were saying our goodbyes 30 metres away, then a group of three to four men left the pub, made a beeline for me, kicked me in the back, threw me on the ground, slamming my head, and kicked me in the skull. My friends were punched trying to defend me. He said that he and his friends went to a pub and left at 3am. “We were about 30 metres away, saying goodbye to each other, when four men charged directly towards me: one of them karate kicked my back, threw me to the ground, started kicking me in the head and back, while my friends tried to drag them off, and were punched trying to defend me.
“The group then scarpered: I don’t know if they said anything in the melee. I’m fine other than a big bump on my head and a cut back. Given the far-right attacks I’ve had in the streets, and generally escalating far right threats I’ve had, I’m in no doubt as to what this is.” “It was clearly a premeditated attack and I was their target. They all attacked me and only assaulted my friends when they tried to defend me.
He added: “What happened – to be clear – is they spotted me in the pub, waited for us to leave, and then launched their attack when we were away from the pub – it was planned, not a random attack ... The far-right menace is growing, it’s real, it’s violent and it’s targeting minorities and leftists. We can’t let them intimidate us, and we will defeat them.” “In the past year I’ve been repeatedly targeted in the street by far right activists, including attempts to use physical assault, and homophobic abuse. I’ve had a far-right activist taking pictures of me, and posting threatening messages and a video.
Earlier in the year, Jones was covertly photographed in a London pub by a far-right activist who posted a picture of the columnist online with a threatening message that read: “do not underestimate me … I can get that close to your like minded people … I even know your address of all you radicals [sic]”. “Because of this, and escalating threats of violence and death, I’ve had the police involved. My friends felt it was a matter of time until this happened. Give the context, it seems unthinkable that I was singled out for anything other than a politically motived premeditated attack.”
The Metropolitan police said: “[A man in his thirties] was attacked by up to four males who also assaulted his friends when they attempted to intervene. None of those injured required hospital treatment or London ambulance service. No arrests have been made.” He blamed the attack on “the rise of an emboldened far right, which is increasingly violent, and targeting minorities and people on the left”.
He added: “They are being radicalised by mainstream politicians and a disturbingly large segment of the mainstream media.”
The Metropolitan police said: “[A man in his thirties] was attacked by up to four males, who also assaulted his friends when they attempted to intervene. None of those injured required hospital treatment or London ambulance service. No arrests have been made.”
Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief of the Guardian and Observer, said: “We deplore the outrageous attack on Owen Jones that took place late last night. Violent assaults on journalists or activists have no place in a democratic society.”Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief of the Guardian and Observer, said: “We deplore the outrageous attack on Owen Jones that took place late last night. Violent assaults on journalists or activists have no place in a democratic society.”
Labour MP Diane Abbott condemned the attack on Twitter, saying: “Shocking to hear about this attack on you & your friends. The times we live in are increasingly dark and dangerous. You have all my love & support. Solidarity.” Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn sent a message of “solidarity” to Jones. He said: “Owen believes it was politically motivated, and we know the far right is on the march in our country.
Jones thanked his friends “who were assaulted defending me and who I love very much”. “An attack on a journalist is an attack on free speech and our fundamental values.”
Labour MP Diane Abbott also condemned the attack on Twitter: “Shocking to hear about this attack on you & your friends. The times we live in are increasingly dark and dangerous. You have all my love & support. Solidarity.”
Jones thanked his friends “who were assaulted defending me and who I love very much.”
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