Stirchley Clash Escalates into Van Collision

At about 10 pm on Thursday, roughly ten residents gathered on Pershore Road in Stirchley, Birmingham, to remove union and Saint George flags that Raise the Colours had placed earlier. During the removal a man in his 30s was struck by a van, breaking his leg and requiring surgery; he remains hospitalized.

The Guardian

Raise the Colours has installed thousands of union and Saint George flags across England, promoting anti-immigrant messages. In the month before the Stirchley incident, Oxfordshire County Council issued a legal notice banning the group after staff and residents reported abuse and threats.

The Guardian

Key figures are Raise the Colours co-founder Ryan Bridge; the local residents, including a friend of the injured man; West Midlands Police; Labour MP Al Carns, who received numerous complaints; the grassroots group Brummies United Against Racism; and activist David Clarke, a long-time flag-removal campaigner.

The Guardian

West Midlands Police said the van was recovered on Prince Road and that CCTV footage is being examined. Ryan Bridge told the BBC the area had been “hijacked” by the “far-left” and that his supporters were “there for trouble”. MP Al Carns wrote to the constable describing resident accounts as “troubling” and urging preventative measures. A Raise the Colours spokesperson said the group does not “condone any violence”.

The Guardian

Residents reported harassment, intimidation and physical assault by men wearing the Raise the Colours logo. Brummies United Against Racism called on newly elected councillors to take urgent action against the group. Activist David Clarke said the group had been a “serious threat” for a long time.

The Guardian

Raise the Colours co-founder claimed the group knows nothing about the crash and does not condone violence, while residents identified the group’s logo on the van and on aggressors. Police have not released a definitive attribution of responsibility.

The Guardian

• “The van failed to stop at the scene but was recovered on nearby Prince Road and is now being examined,” — West Midlands Police

The Guardian

• “We have been saying for a long time that the Raise the Colours guys were a serious threat.” — David Clarke, Stirchley resident

The Guardian

• “It was only [when] one of the guys from the RTC spoke. He was saying ‘someone’s been hit’,” — Stirchley resident (friend of the injured man)

The Guardian

• “The Raise the Colours co-founder Ryan Bridge said in an interview with the BBC that the area was “hijacked” by the “far-left”, adding that they looked like “they were there for trouble”.” — Ryan Bridge, co-founder, Raise the Colours

The Guardian

MP Al Carns has discussed preventative measures with police. Brummies United Against Racism urges the new council to enforce stricter action on flag installations. Police continue analysing video evidence to identify those responsible for the van collision.

The Guardian