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Police hurt in anti-Tesco clashes
2011-04-23 02:04:58
22 April 2011 Last updated at 18:01 Share this page Delicious Digg Facebook reddit StumbleUpon Twitter Email Print Police hurt in violent anti-Tesco clashes in Bristol
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//"Three police officers in riot gear passed us by and one of them shoved me out the way, there was absolutely no reason for that, they could have quite easily walked by.
"Earlier it had been a very 'Stokes Crofts atmosphere' with people playing musical instruments.
"At one stage people laid down bikes and sat down in the road and the police steamed in pulling everyone out the way and dogs were used.
"There were people being pulled up and roughly treated.
"On the other hand I saw people throwing bricks and bottles at the police and trashing a police car which is obviously very unacceptable," she added.
'Swift arrest operation'In a statement, Avon and Somerset Constabulary said its "robust operation was fully justified" after police carried out an operation in Cheltenham Road to arrest four people who represented "a very real threat to the local community".
It added: "The safety of the public is paramount in any situation of this kind and we took the decision to carry out a swift arrest operation, following intelligence received about the criminal intentions of those who were occupying the building.
The store - which had been opposed by many locals - opened on 15 April"The fact that we seized petrol bombs illustrates the seriousness of this situation and the reason why we took this positive action."
A Tesco spokesman said the store would work hard to reopen as soon as possible.
"We strongly condemn the violence in Stokes Croft and the injuries caused to the members of the police who worked courageously to protect the public and businesses in the area, including ours."
The Tesco Express store in Cheltenham Road had been the subject of protests before its opening.
Last March bailiffs evicted nine of the 10 squatters occupying the building where the store was planned.
Four people were arrested for public order offences and 70 police officers quelled the disturbance.
People living in the area opposing the store said they did not want Stokes Croft to lose its local character and feared smaller shops would be threatened.
Speaking then, Tesco said opening a store there would bring back shoppers to the area and help local traders.