Hong Kong pro-democracy protester dragged into Chinese consulate grounds in Manchester and beaten

A Hong Kong pro-democracy protester was dragged into the Chinese Consulate grounds in Manchester and beaten up.

In a video, posted by Political Asylum Manchester City Transit Station, an unidentified group of men in face masks approach the consulate fence at a pro-democracy demonstration outside the consulate and drag a man inside.

The protester told Voice of America (VOA), that the men took away a satirical portrait of Xi Jinping and then beat him up.

He said: “After I was pulled in, I was punched and kicked. I had scars on my face, bleeding, and swelling. Hair was pulled from my head, swollen and bruised. I had bruises on my neck and back, and my waist was a little sore.”

He added that protesters and the police managed to pull him out of the consulate.

Human rights campaigner, Luke de Pulford, tweeted a picture allegedly showing the protester who was attacked, with cuts on his face.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said the force is aware of an incident which took place at around 3pm on Sunday at the Chinese Consulate in Manchester.

They said: “Officers were present and responded immediately to diffuse the situation. Enquiries are ongoing at this time to understand the full circumstances.

“A police patrol plan is in place in the area following this incident.”

MPs are calling on the government to urgently investigate the matter and demand that the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, is summoned.

Alicia Kearns, MP and chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, tweeted a photo of protesters and the police at the consulate and suggested that the consul general had “full sight, and quite possibly was involved, in the assaults”.

Former Conservative leader, Iain Duncan-Smith, called for an apology from Mr Zeguang and said the government should demand those responsible be sent back to China.

Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy described reports of the incident as “deeply concerning” and said the foreign secretary should “urgently” summon the ambassador to demand an explanation for the incident.

The protest coincided with the first day of the congress of China’s ruling party, where President Xi Jinping is expected to win a third leadership term.

Sky News has contacted the government, the Chinese consulate in Manchester and the Chinese Embassy in London for comment.

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