The boroughs MPs have condemned the actions that took place at the Chinese consulate in Manchester over the weekend.

Police were made aware of a planned demonstration due to take place on Sunday.

Around 30 to 40 people gathered outside the Chinese Consulate, and local patrols were in the area to help maintain the peaceful protest.

But shortly before 4pm a small group of men came out of the building and a man was dragged into the Consulate grounds and assaulted.

Due to  fears for the safety of the man, officers intervened and removed the victim from the Consulate grounds.

The man – aged in his 30s – suffered several physical injuries and remained in hospital overnight for treatment.

 

The incident has seen prominent political figures across the nation speak out against what happened.

Bolton West MP Chris Green described the events as “shocking” and called on Greater Manchester Police and the Government to act.

He said: “The scenes at the Chinese consulate are shocking and this needs to be thoroughly investigated both by Greater Manchester Police and by the Home Office.

“The video footage is hard to follow but it does look like an attempted kidnapping of a protestor on British soil, and an attempt to bring them on to Chinese sovereign territory.

“We don’t know what would have happened if the police didn’t intervene, but the diplomatic outcome could have been appalling, and the outcome for the protestor could have been awful.

“This should never have happened and should never be allowed to happen again.”

Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East, agreed with Mr Green, adding: “The attack at the Chinese Consulate on a pro-democracy protester is deeply concerning.

“Issues like this should be dealt with swiftly as they violate values of autonomy and freedom of speech that we hold so dear."

READ MORE: Outrage after protestor assaulted in Chinese Consulate grounds

Detectives from Greater Manchester Police’s Major Incident Team are investigating the incident and officers are liaising with national policing and diplomatic partners.

Yesterday, assistant chief constable Rob Potts said: “We understand the shock and concern that this incident will have caused not just locally, but for those much further afield who may have connections with our communities here in Greater Manchester.

“It is clear what began as a peaceful protest unexpectedly escalated and our officers acted professionally in response to a hostile and dynamic situation to help the victim and ensure he didn’t come to any further harm.

 

“A full and comprehensive investigation is underway by our experienced Major Incident Team detectives, and I can assure the public that all viable avenues will be explored to bring to justice anyone we believe is culpable for the scenes we saw outside the Chinese Consulate on Sunday.

“This investigation will take time, but we are supporting the man who was subjected to this assault, as well as ensuring that our local officers are providing visible reassurance and are available to anyone may wish to speak to us.”

No arrests have yet been made.

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