This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-12973564

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
G20 inquest: Pc pushed Ian Tomlinson 'to move him away' G20 inquest: Pc pushed Ian Tomlinson 'to move him away'
(40 minutes later)
The Pc who pushed Ian Tomlinson at the April 2009 G20 protests did so after a strike on the thigh had failed to move the newspaper seller away from the police line, an inquest has heard.The Pc who pushed Ian Tomlinson at the April 2009 G20 protests did so after a strike on the thigh had failed to move the newspaper seller away from the police line, an inquest has heard.
Pc Simon Harwood told the London hearing he had been "amazed" when Mr Tomlinson fell forward.Pc Simon Harwood told the London hearing he had been "amazed" when Mr Tomlinson fell forward.
The 47-year-old collapsed and died moments after he had been pushed.The 47-year-old collapsed and died moments after he had been pushed.
Earlier, Pc Harwood said he had palmed off protesters and pushed a cameraman as confrontations "got out of hand".Earlier, Pc Harwood said he had palmed off protesters and pushed a cameraman as confrontations "got out of hand".
Describing the moments he hit Mr Tomlinson, the officer said: "I struck the upper part of his leg with my baton. I didn't get a reaction so I pushed him with the right palm of my hand to the top right of his shoulder. Pc Harwood, part of the Metropolitan Police's specialist Territorial Support Group (TSG), was caught on film pushing Mr Tomlinson to the ground in Cornhill, central London.
'Ignoring officers' requests'
He said he had first seen Mr Tomlinson talking to two police-dog handlers and an officer near a bike shed on the Royal Exchange.
"I then remember Mr Tomlinson moving in front of me from my right to my left as though he was walking or encroaching into the police line," he said.
Pc Harwood said he struck Mr Tomlinson because he was ignoring other officers' requests for him to move.
Describing the moments he hit the father-of-nine, the officer said: "I struck the upper part of his leg with my baton. I didn't get a reaction so I pushed him with the right palm of my hand to the top right of his shoulder.
"Once I pushed him, he fell forward. I was amazed that he fell forward. I looked for other threats, then I moved back behind the police dogs.""Once I pushed him, he fell forward. I was amazed that he fell forward. I looked for other threats, then I moved back behind the police dogs."
Pc Harwood said he had used forced "initially as an encouragement to make him move away".Pc Harwood said he had used forced "initially as an encouragement to make him move away".
"I hit him in the thigh because usually that's where you get less harm but the maximum reaction. It really encourages people to move away.""I hit him in the thigh because usually that's where you get less harm but the maximum reaction. It really encourages people to move away."
He then said he had pushed Mr Tomlinson because he had got no reaction to hitting him in the thigh with the baton "and I needed him to move away from the police line".He then said he had pushed Mr Tomlinson because he had got no reaction to hitting him in the thigh with the baton "and I needed him to move away from the police line".
The inquest earlier heard how the officer had been "frightened and confused" after confrontations got "out of hand" minutes before Mr Tomlinson's death. Mr Tomlinson, who was not a protester and had been selling newspapers in Fish Street, was on his way home when he encountered the 1 April protests.
On Monday, members of Mr Tomlinson's family walked out of the inquest after the police officer had started giving evidence.
Pc Harwood, part of the Metropolitan Police's specialist Territorial Support Group (TSG), was caught on film pushing Mr Tomlinson to the ground in Cornhill, central London.
The inquest, at the International Dispute Resolution Centre, is examining the actions of the police, the pathologist and independent investigators.The inquest, at the International Dispute Resolution Centre, is examining the actions of the police, the pathologist and independent investigators.
'Clenched fist''Clenched fist'
Pc Harwood told the court of the moments leading up to Mr Tomlinson's death.Pc Harwood told the court of the moments leading up to Mr Tomlinson's death.
He said he had had to "recompose myself" after several confrontations as the demonstrations got "out of hand".He said he had had to "recompose myself" after several confrontations as the demonstrations got "out of hand".
He said he had been "frightened and confused" in the tense atmosphere and after being hit on the back by an object and palming off a protester who had approached him with a "clenched fist", he had felt "very" scared.He said he had been "frightened and confused" in the tense atmosphere and after being hit on the back by an object and palming off a protester who had approached him with a "clenched fist", he had felt "very" scared.
As video footage was played to a jury of Pc Harwood at the Royal Exchange Buildings, the officer said: "I was frightened and confused, I wondered where I was."As video footage was played to a jury of Pc Harwood at the Royal Exchange Buildings, the officer said: "I was frightened and confused, I wondered where I was."
He said he had to find time to recompose himself after realising he had lost his colleagues.He said he had to find time to recompose himself after realising he had lost his colleagues.
On Monday, Pc Harwood told how he had been in fear for his life after attracting the attention of a "hostile crowd".On Monday, Pc Harwood told how he had been in fear for his life after attracting the attention of a "hostile crowd".
He said protesters had jeered and shouted as he tried to arrest a man on suspicion of criminal damage to one of the police vans.He said protesters had jeered and shouted as he tried to arrest a man on suspicion of criminal damage to one of the police vans.
There was a "large gasp" from the crowd as the suspect he had hold of collided with the door of a police van, he said.There was a "large gasp" from the crowd as the suspect he had hold of collided with the door of a police van, he said.
Footage showed him leading the man further away from the vans with the crowd surging behind him.Footage showed him leading the man further away from the vans with the crowd surging behind him.
"At the time because he was becoming more aggressive, more hostile, I was starting to believe that this was getting out of control."At the time because he was becoming more aggressive, more hostile, I was starting to believe that this was getting out of control.
"I was aware there was a very hostile crowd and I was actually in fear for my life then from what was coming towards me.""I was aware there was a very hostile crowd and I was actually in fear for my life then from what was coming towards me."