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Ian Tomlinson (c. 1970–April 1, 2009) was a British newsagent who died in central London during the 2009 G-20 London summit protests on his way home from work. An initial post mortem indicated that he had had a heart attack.
His death became controversial a week later when The Guardian obtained footage, taken by a member of the public, showing that Tomlinson, who was not a protester, had been pushed to the ground by police minutes before he died, and appeared to have been struck on the leg by a police baton. The footage appears to show that the incident occurred without provocation on Tomlinson's part.
A second post mortem has been ordered, and a criminal inquiry begun, from which the police have been removed. The Independent Police Complaints Commission has announced it will appoint its own investigators to examine whether the police assaulted Tomlinson and whether that assault caused his death.
Background
Tomlinson was a newspaper seller, who was married with several adult children. Initial press reports indicate that he did not take part in the G-20 protests, but was walking through central London during the protests on April 1, attempting to get home from work.
Before The Guardian obtained footage of what appears to be a police assault on Tomlinson, eyewitnesses had already said that he had been pushed to the ground by police at the Royal Exchange, a pedestrian area in the City of London. The Guardian reports that witnesses "variously described seeing him being pushed and thrown to the floor by an officer, struck with a police baton and hitting his head against the pavement."
After being helped to his feet by a protester, Tomlinson walked 200 feet to Cornhill, opposite St Michael's Alley, where he collapsed. He was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. It was reported that after a protester had made an emergency 999 phone call he was still breathing.
Initial reporting
The Evening Standard published reports stating "police were bombarded with bricks, bottles and planks of wood" as they assisted Tomlinson. The web edition was later changed but still stated "Today it emerged that police had come under a barrage of missiles as they tried to save the life of a man who collapsed during a protest near the Bank of England last night. The officers were hit by bottles thrown from the crowd and were forced to carry the man to a safe location to give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. An ambulance crew then took the man to hospital, where he died".
Witness testimonies, subsequently confirmed by video footage, stated that reports of missiles raining down while police tried to assist are false, and that protesters provided first aid and telephoned and requested medical attention with their megaphone. Various witnesses stated that one or two plastic bottles were thrown (and missed by a distance) by some unaware of the injury, however the protesters told them to stop, one protester threatening to kill the people if they threw any more.
Release of the video footage
On 7 April, 2009, The Guardian released video footage taken by member of the public which shows that Tomlinson was pushed to the ground as he was walking slowly away from a group of Metropolitan Police Officers wearing riot gear with his hands in his pockets as he was walking through Royal Exchange Passage. An officer first struck Tomlinson on the back of his leg and then pushed him violently to the ground from behind. Sitting, Tomlinson received help from two protesters, as the police officers stood and watched. Tomlinson appeared to speak with an officer, whilst seated and was then being helped to his feet by a member of the public and walked away along Cornhill.
See also
References
- Lewis, Paul. Ian Tomlinson death: Guardian video reveals police attack on man who died at G20 protest, The Guardian, April 7, 2009.
- Dodd, Vikram. Ian Tomlinson death: IPCC takes over inquiry from G20 protests police force, The Guardian, April 8, 2009.
- ^ Lewis, Paul and Laville, Sandra. G20: Police question witness to alleged assault on man who died during protests, The Guardian, April 6, 2009.
- Davenport, Justin (2 April 2009). "Police pelted with bricks as they help dying man" (PDF). The Evening Standard. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - http://www.chickyog.net/2009/04/02/the-evening-standards-g20-bricks/
- Witness Statement About G20 Death (Video Testimony). London: Indymedia London.
{{cite AV media}}: Unknown parameter|date2=ignored (help) - "Police name man who died at G20 protest". The Guardian. 2 April 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Paul Lewis (7 April 2009). "Video reveals G20 police assault on man who died". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 April 2009.