Screenshot from video showing a police officer trying to rescue a Hong Kong protester who was being beaten at the Chinese consulate in Manchester, England, on Oct. 16, 2022. (Screenshot/Hong Kong Indigenous Defence Force via The Epoch Times)
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A Hong Kong protester was dragged onto the grounds of the Chinese consulate in Manchester and beaten by seven or eight people on Sunday.
The protester, identified only as Bob, said he was trying to stop consulate staff from taking a poster he was holding when he was dragged into the compound.
Bob was one of around 60 people who were taking part in a protest organised by Hong Kong Indigenous Defence Force objecting to the reelection of Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
The pro-democracy group said in a statement that “several staff members in riot gears [sic] from the China Consulate attempted to confiscate a large protest painting from the protesters” less than two minutes into a speech by one of the activists.
The identity of the attackers is unclear but footage uploaded on social media shows them coming out of the consulate before the incident and going back into the consulate after Bob was freed by a police officer.
Consul General Zheng Xiyuan was allegedly at the scene, according to Luke de Pulford of HK Watch.
Police officers managed to stop other protesters from entering the consulate ground, while one officer went in to rescue Bob.
Bob was later taken to the hospital. Hong Kong Indigenous Defence Force said his condition was stable.
Cuts and bruises can be seen on his face, neck, head, and back.
Bruises are seen on the body of Bob, a pro-democracy Hong Kong protester who was dragged onto the grounds of the Chinese consulate and beaten in Manchester, England, on Oct. 16, 2022. (Courtesy of Hong Kong Indigenous Defence Force)
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police told The Epoch Times that police officers were present at the scene and were able to diffuse the situation and that enquiries are ongoing to understand the full circumstances.
The large poster that was taken is a caricature of Chinese leader Xi Jinping as the emperor wearing no clothes, holding blood-stained maps of Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Ukraine in his hands.
A caricature of Chinese leader Xi Jinping as the emperor wearing no clothes. (Hong Kong Indigenous Defence Force)
Consul General Allegedly Present
Before the banner was taken, an older man was seen kicking another banner that says “heaven will destroy the Chinese Communist Party” and ripping up another banner that said “Congrat [expletives].”
He was later seen standing and watching Bob being beaten.
It is alleged on social media that the man was Consul General Zheng Xiyuan.
The man’s face was covered by a mask and he was only seen from the side and the back in footage circulated online, but the scarf he was wearing appears to be similar to a scarf worn by Zheng at an event in 2019.
The Chinese consulate did not respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment.
David Alton, Lord Alton of Liverpool, said Chinese Ambassador Zheng Zeguang should clarify whether the man was the consul general.
“If it is, [Home Secretary] Suella Braverman should demand he pack his bags and leave now,” the crossbench peer wrote on Twitter.