26 testimonies. Who protected the protesters?

They were assaulted at a peaceful protest in Edgware. Demand an independent review of how the police handled the day, in one click. If you were there, prepare your own crime report and complaint too.

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What the demonstrators reported

26 protesters told us what happened. This is what the police did not stop.

Survey of 26 demonstrators, 17 to 20 June 2026, corroborated by video footage and medical records held by the organisers. Reported, not yet adjudicated.

69%
feared for their life during the attack
27%
of attacks were stopped by police, although officers witnessed almost half
73%
did not report it: they did not believe police would act
50%
were attacked before they even reached the protest
100%
say the attack was politically motivated
92%
were targeted as a group, not as individuals
One documented case

A demonstrator was punched, kicked and pushed by three people on the way to the protest, suffering a fractured nose, a black eye and deep scratches treated at A&E, and had their bank cards taken by force. Police at the scene said they were short-staffed, said they could not arrest anyone, and called an ambulance only after a delay.

What was shouted

Demonstrators reported being called a “terrorist supporter”, alongside antisemitic abuse and slurs mixing political and religious hate. 65% believed the attack was racially motivated, 69% religiously, and 42% that they were targeted over their gender.

This is violent disorder

Under section 2 of the Public Order Act 1986, three or more people using or threatening violence so that others fear for their safety is violent disorder, punishable by up to five years in prison. Not simple assault. This campaign asks that it be investigated as what it is.

How the police failed

The first twenty minutes, minute by minute.

From a timeline compiled by demonstrators on the day, corroborated by footage held by the organisers. Reported, not yet adjudicated; the named detail is held for investigators.

11:16Arrived late

The first officers reached the scene about seven minutes after the first attack.

3 to 4Under-resourced

Only three to four officers at first. Reinforcements took several more minutes.

WatchedDid not intervene

Officers formed a barrier and held it, but did not engage the crowd attacking demonstrators.

11:19Failed to arrest

An assailant demonstrators had identified attacking two people at 11:15 was still free at 11:19.

11:36Failed to protect

A demonstrator was assaulted twice while officers were nearby.

ArrestArrested the wrong person

A steward who tried to reclaim a banner stolen from the group was arrested, while the identified assailants were not.

Timeline
  1. 11:08Protesters arrive by bus into a heavy counter-protest presence.
  2. 11:13First attack: the group is set upon. No police present.
  3. 11:15Second attack: the group is kettled and two demonstrators are assaulted.
  4. 11:16Police arrive, three to four officers. They form a barrier and do not intervene.
  5. 11:19An identified assailant is still free.
  6. 11:36A demonstrator is assaulted twice nearby; a steward is arrested for reclaiming a stolen banner.
Companion campaign: the event marketed property in settlements the UK calls illegal, and the headlines buried it. Write to your MP and correct the record at /action/illegal-settlements-edgware.

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Demand an independent review of the policing

Add your details and UK postcode. We email MOPAC, the IOPC and the EHRC, and send a letter to your own MP, for you. If you were at the protest, you can also tick the two 'if you were there' options: we prepare your crime report and IOPC complaint and open the official forms for you to submit yourself.