Man charged after police van torched during Bristol riot

A police van was torched during the first 'Kill the Bill' protest in Bristol.

A man has been charged with attempted arson with intent to endanger life from the first Kill the Bill protest in Bristol.

Ryan Roberts, 25, was arrested in connection with a lit item being placed underneath an occupied police van.

Avon and Somerset Police says the alleged incident happened during disorder outside the police station in Bridewell Street, Bristol, on Sunday March 21.

A picture of police officers in riot gear at a Kill the Bill protest in Bristol. Credit: PA

The force say Roberts, of Madeira Road, Plymouth, is also charged with two counts of criminal damage, two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, and violent disorder.

He has been remanded in custody ahead of appearing at Bristol Magistrates' Court on Saturday, April 3.

Two other men and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and released under investigation.

In total, 29 people have now been arrested following the protest that saw 500 people march on Bridewell police station.

"There are currently 16 images in our online gallery of people we want to identify as part of our inquiry and we continue to appeal to people to contact us if they recognise any of them."

Since the first demonstration, there have been three other protests in the city against the Government's proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

Protests on March 23 and 26 ended in clashes between the police and protesters.

A further demonstration on March 30 passed off peacefully.

The proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill would give police in England and Wales more power to impose conditions on non-violent protests, including those deemed too noisy or a nuisance, with those convicted liable to fines or jail terms.


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