Diane Abbott has defended the
'understandable anger and
upset' of a furious mob of rioters who lit
bonfires and hurled petrol bombs at officers in Dalston, east London,
last night.
The Shadow Home Secretary
made the remarks after a protest over the death of a black father 'who
was wrestled to the ground by police' in her own Hackney constituency
turned violent.
Last last night,
demonstrators barricaded part of Kingsland Road - close to where Rashan
Charles died last week following a struggle with a police officer - with
wheelie bins, mattresses and household debris.
Ms Abbott told MailOnline: 'The anger and upset at the death of Rashan Charles is understandable.
'But
Rashan's family have explicitly spoken out against hostile actions. We
must respect their wishes and any protests must be peaceful.'
Mr
Charles died after he was chased by an officer who attempted to remove
an object from his throat according to an initial probe by the
Independent Police Complaints Commission.
Footage
on social media appeared to show at least one police officer attempting
to restrain the 20-year-old in a shop close to where the protest is
being held.
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