Tommy Robinson Fans - Cops Close In

Last month, a rally and protest in London at the jailing of Stephen Yaxley Lennon, who styles himself Tommy Robinson, turned violent. A creatively assembled selection of missiles was hurled at officers of the Metropolitan Police, some of whom sustained injuries. This was in addition to them being called “traitor” and “scum” by the collective membership of the Wall Of Gammon™ in the process.

At the time, a range of excuses was advanced as to why there had been such a blatant outbreak of disorder. Steve Bannon’s sad Mini-Me Raheem “call me Ray” Kassam blamed the cops, sneering “@SadiqKhan’s police aren’t very good at doing this to London’s knife-wielding or gun-toting gang members. But they’re very good at doing it to people protesting against radical Islam”. People unable to behave like civilised human beings, more like.

Sadly for him and his pals, the mood among the wider public was less accommodating, as scenes of hooliganism, gratuitous violence, attacks on passers-by and other attempts to turn the streets of London into a no-go area were broadcast. And Jo Phillips warned the Free Tommy faithful that they had been recorded misbehaving.

“The #FreeTommy event in London today was a fitting tribute to the man … pissed up football hooligans rampaging through peoples' home city and throwing stuff (badly) and attacking the police … Good news? All those streamers videoing em means jail time when they are identified” she warned. And the Met have now confirmed that she was right.

Their Twitter feed has this morning told “Detectives have released images of people they would like to speak to in connection with serious disorder which occurred during the Free Tommy Robinson Protest on Saturday, 9 June in Whitehall”. The Tweet shows six males; the accompanying press release shows three more people - including one woman.

Hence that release telling “Detectives have released images of nine people they would like to speak to in connection with serious disorder which occurred during the Free Tommy Robinson Protest on Saturday, 9 June in Whitehall”. There was more.

DC Jonny Wise of the Met’s Public Order Investigations team has told “During this demonstration violent disorder broke out on the streets of Central London. Scaffolding, glass bottles and items of street furniture were thrown at police officers and 21 officers sustained injuries … Serious disruption was caused to members of the public, local businesses and the local communities. Vehicles and buildings were damaged and those responsible need to be held accountable for their actions”.

Dead right they do. So it’s vital that the Met receives every assistance in identifying those nine individuals, and then interviewing them, then eliminating them from their enquiries if they are found not to have been involved in the violence of June 9.

I’m sure Raheem Kassam will agree with that. Why wouldn't he?

[Anyone with information should contact the Public Order Investigations Team on 020 8246 0076. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111]