Crime Desk

The Met Police have continued to track down the "student protestors" involved in serious violence in Westminster in November, with a new image showing a student protestors throwing a petrol bomb in Parliament Square.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Service’s Operation Malone team - which is investigating the serious disorder and violence in the capital on 10, 24 and 30 November and 9 December - have issued a series of stills and moving footage of suspects they wish to trace in connection with all four protests.

One clip of moving footage - taken by a member of the public - shows a man wielding a petrol bomb in Parliament Square on 9 December.

The footage was taken in Parliament Square, Regent Street and Oxford Circus and includes images of the suspect kicking cars in the royal convoy, kicking in the windows of Topshop in Oxford Circus and throwing a fence at officers.

A further ten still images have been released relating to disorder on 24 November. Although the images are grainy, officers believe members of the public will be able to recognise the individuals featured.

Anybody who knows any of those pictured, or any others who may have broken the law during student protests in November and December, should contact the Operation Malone investigation team on 020 8358 0100. Alternatively, if you wish to remain anonymous please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Detective Chief Superintendent Matthew Horne, heading the Operation Malone team, said: "The right to peaceful protest is fundamental. The MPS polices thousands of public events each year and makes significant efforts to engage with organizers to ensure the safety of everyone.

“What we have released today is the unlawful side of protest. An individual throws what appears to be a petrol bomb, putting others in clear danger. Another young man is seen committing acts of suspected violent disorder in Parliament Square, attempting to cause damage to shops and attacking the Royal Convoy.

"We saw, this week, a young man with no criminal history sentenced to a substantial term of imprisonment for throwing a fire extinguisher off the roof of Millbank Tower. This clearly could have resulted in catastrophic injury to those below him. His actions and their consequences have also had a massive impact on his family. I would urge those intent on committing violence and damage to reflect upon this.”

photo credit Met Police