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New: 16 year old boy on his first protest is stabbed with a glass bottle impairing his sight and beaten by far right gang at anti-BLM rally to 'defend statues'. A man saves him and helps him to the police where officer seeing him bleeding... stops and searches him. More on C4 now
16 year old Gerard is reserved and along with two white friends was moved by the video of George Floyd and just wanted to do something. Sat 13 June they got the train into London. When Gerard realised the scale of the far right thread he tried to stay near to officers.
The teenager was approached by two grown men asking him if he was "one of them". Scared he said "no" but they chased him, slashed him, drove him to the ground and a group pile on proceeded. The tiny teenager was kicked, punched whilst on the floor by men almost twice his age.
Gerard then says that a tall white bystander with brown hair pulled him out and saved him. If this was you or know who it was please do get in touch. His family would like to relay thanks.
Dripping with blood from damage to his head Gerard asked an officer to take him to safety. Gerard claims the officer declined citing obligation to his fellow officers. The officer searched his injuries but then proceeded to stop and search the teen under section 60.
The Met say "The boy approached officers who were actively engaged in the police operation to deal with the violent incidents seeking medical assistance"
They also said: "An officer carried out an initial assessment of the injury and deemed it was not serious. He was also checked over, including the lifting of his clothing, to ensure he had not received any other injuries"
They say Gerard was advised to "make his way to the outer cordon. The boy then made contact with officers on the outer cordon. London Ambulance Service (LAS) were called and officers waited with him until they arrived."
The Met's Ass.Dep Commissioner told us “This incident is being treated as a racially aggravated assault. It is entirely unacceptable that anyone should be subject to an assault, especially one of this nature, and we have offered our full support to the victim in this case."
Yet the family contest this. Gerard's mother says the family only heard from officers *after* we (Channel 4 News) got in touch with the Met for comment on Saturday over 48 hours ago. We only got a response 90 minutes before air today.
The 16 year old has been left traumatised. He is worried about the backlash and how the far right will respond. He was incredibly brave to share his story and all power and praise belongs to him and definitely not me.
