G20 Cop Attack Sparks Demand for Investigation

Officials seek probe in death of man knocked down by riot police

By Jess Kilby, Newser User

Posted Apr 8, 2009 3:40 AM CDT

(Newser) – British officials are calling for a criminal investigation into a police attack on a man who died during the G20 protests in London last week, the Daily Telegraph reports. Video of the incident, shot by a New Yorker in town on business, shows a "sickening and unprovoked attack" by police on Ian Tomlinson, said a spokesman for the Liberal Democrat party. Tomlinson, 47, died of a heart attack a short time later. One senior police officer has called the footage “shocking.”

Tomlinson's son, who has also demanded an investigation, noted that his father was struck with "his hands in his pockets with his head down walking away. We want answers now. It's only minutes after that Ian collapsed and had the heart attack."

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Police officers retreat after moving protesters from outside the Bank of England last Thursday ahead of the final day of the G20 summit. (AP Photo/Tim Hales)

British police officers secure the area of a demonstration close to the ExCel center where the G20 leaders' summit was taking place in London's Docklands last week. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

A man is detained outside the London Stock Exchange in central London's financial district last week during the G20 summit. (AP Photo/Simon Dawson)

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Footage of the attack shot by a New York fund manager and given to the Guardian. (lepointTV/The Guardian)

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G20 Cop Attack Sparks Demand for Investigation