A 12-year-old girl, alongside two adults, has been arrested in connection with a reported assault during a ‘Palestine protest’ in Swansea. The arrests come after an investigation by the police into an alleged assault on a 10-year-old boy at the demonstration outside a store in the Parc Tawe retail park on Friday, May 31.
According to the police, the girl was apprehended on suspicion of racially aggravated assault. Additionally, a 42-year-old local man and a 42-year-old woman were also arrested on suspicion of assault. All three individuals have been released on bail pending further investigation. Stay updated with the latest Swansea news by signing up for our newsletter here.
In an initial statement released on June 2, South Wales Police stated: “We are aware of a reported assault which took place during a Palestine protest at Parc Tawe, Swansea, on Friday, May 31. An investigation into this incident is currently ongoing. All parties involved have been identified and will be interviewed under caution.”
Subsequently, on June 4, the police issued a further statement, indicating: “UPDATE | Officers investigating allegations of an assault upon a 10-year-old boy during a protest outside a Parc Tawe, Swansea, store on May 31 have arrested a 42-year-old local man on suspicion of assault.
“He has been bailed pending further investigation. Officers investigating the incident have also arrested a 42-year-old woman on suspicion of assault and a 12-year-old girl on suspicion of racially aggravated assault. They have been bailed pending further investigation.”
In an unrelated incident, a man was apprehended during a pro-Palestine march in Cardiff on Monday, June 3. Demonstrators had organized an emergency march in the city centre to protest Israel’s attacks on Rafah in Gaza, following the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, resulting in 1,139 fatalities and approximately 250 abductions.
Approximately 60 protestors from various groups, including Cardiff Stop the War, Black Lives Matter Cardiff, and Cymru Students for Palestine, marched on Boulevard de Nantes in the city centre. Online footage suggests that a pro-Palestinian activist, wielding a megaphone, was restrained by multiple South Wales Police officers before being escorted away with his arms held by the police.
Confirming the incident, South Wales Police disclosed they had arrested a 36-year-old man from Swansea on suspicion of wilful obstruction of the highway and conspiracy to commit public nuisance. Later that evening, campaigners congregated at Cardiff Bay police station, demanding the man’s release. Footage from the scene depicts several protestors seated on the reception floor of the police station, equipped with blankets, flasks, and camping chairs.
