Massive Police Hunt Underway After Bristol Riots Injure Officers and Torch Police Station
More than 100 cops and staff have launched a major probe into the violent chaos that erupted outside Bristol’s Bridewell Police Station yesterday evening.
21 Officers Hurt, Two Seriously
The brawl left 21 officers injured, with two badly hurt after being violently attacked by a mob. Police vehicles, including a community police station van, were set ablaze. The station itself suffered criminal damage to its exterior.
Eight Arrests Made, More Expected
So far, eight suspects are in custody — six charged with violent disorder, two for carrying offensive weapons. The Major Crime Investigation Team leads the inquiry, backed by CID, Operational Support, Intelligence, and Forensics units, all hunting for those behind the mayhem.
Police Launch Largest Image Release in Force History
“What happened on the streets of Bristol on Sunday was nothing short of disgraceful and it’s provoked widespread condemnation over the past 24 hours,” said Detective Chief Superintendent Carolyn Belafonte.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by support from the public and local agencies. It means a lot to our officers who risk their lives daily to keep people safe.”
“We have mountains of digital evidence — CCTV, bodycam footage, social media, plus videos and photos from witnesses. We’ve set up a dedicated form on our website for anyone to upload footage and help us catch those responsible.”
“Once we sift through all the material, we plan to release the largest-ever set of images to the public to identify suspects. We’re confident more arrests are imminent.”
“Forensic teams have completed a full examination at the scene and collected critical fingerprint evidence.”
“This will be a lengthy investigation, but anyone involved should expect a knock on their door soon — maybe sooner than they think.”
