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Why is 'Kill the Bill' trending? 'Protest hijacked by extremists,' officials claim as police vans set on fire

'Shame on you' shouted the crowd as many police vans were overturned, smashed and destroyed by graffiti, while at least two of them were set on fire

Thousands of protestors came together to oppose the new bill that would allow police more control over protests that are non-violent as well. The public has hence taken to protesting this bill, hoping to defund police, wanting to scrap the bill that would curtail citizens' right to protest.

On Sunday, the protest became violent leading the property damage, and cops were also hurt during the protests. This has led to hue and cry by a section of the public and the officials about how the protests had been taken over by extremists. “Shame on you” shouted the crowd as many police vans were overturned, smashed and destroyed by graffiti, while at least two of them were set on fire. 

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Even as the cops in riot gear and on horseback attempted to get the crowd to disperse, many protestors were seen using baseball bats to smash glass panels of Bristol’s Bridewell police station. According to a report in Mirror, Avon and Somerset Police Chief Constable Andy Marsh confirmed that 20 cops were hurt while trying to control the crowd that was protesting. One officer reportedly suffered from collapsed lungs, while others suffered broken bones. In the meantime, the public also shared videos and pictures were the police in riot gear are seeing using their batons on the protestors. 

It was also reported that a total of 12 police vans were damaged during the protest. Chief Constable Marsh claimed that the protest saw the presence of 400 and 500 "hardcore" thugs who were intent on causing criminal damage and added that the protest itself had been taken over by "hijacked by extremists". Some of the slogans written on the placards that were held by the protestors included “Say no to UK police state”, “Freedom to protest is fundamental to democracy” and “Kill the Bill”.

The police also confirmed that a total of seven people were detained in connection to the violence that occurred at the protest. Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that six were held for violent disorder and one for possession of an offensive weapon. Chief Marsh also added that  "many more" would be arrested after officials looked into a large amount of CCTV footage from the protest.

The bill that the public is currently protesting -- The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill -- will give forces in both England and Wales more power while dealing with non-violent protests. The power to impose conditions would include protests that are deemed too noisy or a nuisance and the punishment can range between fines and jail time for those convicted. Officials had advised public against gathering for the protesting considering the rapid spread of the coronavirus and its variants.

However, according to Marsh who spoke to Sky News the number of protestors increased "very quickly" to as many as 3,000 people. He added that a group of 400 or 500 "were intent on violence, damage and criminality". He said, "came for a fight with the police," and added, "It wasn't people frustrated with the lack of ability to protest. This was people intent on causing serious disorder, violence and damage, people with a grudge against the police."

Marsh confirmed that there was no prior intelligence gathered which suggested that a gathering of this size would take place. However, he confirmed that a huge investigation would take place "huge police investigation" where the police would be "gathering evidence from CCTV, body-worn video, social media content and images or video sent in by the public."