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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.
The incident
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." The same witnesses said the incident occurred minutes after violent clashes between the police and protesters.
The video obtained by The Guardian, handed to the newspaper by a visitor from New York, shows Tomlinson walking slowly with his hands in his pockets. Several police officers in riot gear and with dogs are walking closely behind him. It is not known at this point whether words were exchanged. The footage shows one officer appear to lunge at Tomlinson from behind and strike him across the legs with a baton. The same officer then appears to push Tomlinson's back, causing Tomlinson to fall.
Tomlinson can be seen briefly remonstrating with police as he sat on the ground. After being helped to his feet by a protester, he walked 200 feet to Cornhill, opposite St Michael's Alley, where he collapsed at around 7:25 pm. Witnesses say he had been stumbling and appeared dazed. An ITV News photographer went to give medical aid, but was forced away when a police charge commenced. A protester went on to send a 999 call and officers gave first aid. At the time, Mr Tomlinson was still breathing. He was, however, pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.
Initial reporting
The Evening Standard, London's evening newspaper, reported on April 2 that, "police were bombarded with bricks, bottles and planks of wood" as they assisted Tomlinson. The web edition of the story 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.
An independent investigation has been ordered into the death of the man, who was in his forties. He had been found slumped in an alley off Cornhill after suffering a suspected heart attack. Police are investigating reports that he was an innocent by-stander who got caught up in the trouble.
According to eyewitnesses, reports of missiles raining down while police tried to assist are "completely false." Witnesses say it was protesters, not police, who provided the initial first aid, and who telephoned for medical help, as well as requesting it with a megaphone. "The only attitude of people in the crowd was to help this guy," one eyewitness said.
Witnesses stated that one or two plastic bottles were thrown by people who were unaware of Tomlinson's situation, but other protesters told them to stop; one protester reportedly threatened to kill anyone who continued to throw anything.
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. Police pelted with bricks as they help dying man, The Evening Standard, April 2, 2009, accessed April 8, 2009.
- Davenport, Justin and Brierley, Danny. Ring of steel keeps demos away from world leaders, The Evening Standard]], April 2, 2009; accessed April 8, 2009.
- ^ Witness Statement About G20 Death, Indymedia London.
- Lewis, Paul; Williams, Rachel; and Jones, Sam. Police name man who died at G20 protest, The Guardian, April 2, 2009, accessed April 3, 2009.