Chit Chat
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Police are investigating after Labour activist Owen Jones was "kicked in the head" by a group of men outside a pub. The Guardian columnist said he had been celebrating his birthday with friends when the men made a "direct beeline" for him in the early hours of Saturday.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said an attack on a journalist was "an attack on free speech and our fundamental values".
The Met said it was working to establish the "full circumstances".
Mr Jones told the BBC he had spent Friday night with his partner and some friends at the Lexington pub on Pentonville Road, Islington. The six of them left the pub at about 02:00 BST on Saturday. As they were saying goodbye to each other, a group of "three or four" men made a "direct beeline" for Mr Jones. Mr Jones claimed it was a "premeditated" move by "far right" activists.
"[They] marched over, kicked me in the back, threw me on the floor... and then kicked me in the head," he said. Mr Jones said his friends were also punched in the head as they tried to stop the "frenzied" attack on him - and that there was "no question" the men were "specifically" targeting him.
In response to the incident, Mr Corbyn tweeted: "Owen believes it was politically motivated, and we know the far right is on the march in our country. "An attack on a journalist is an attack on free speech and our fundamental values."
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police confirmed it had spoken to witnesses and would review CCTV footage. No arrests have been made and the investigation continues.
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Mr Jones said the attack was the latest in a series of assaults since he was verbally abused by protesters on College Green in Westminster earlier this year.
"The far right is an increasingly scary, violent and threatening menace in this country and other countries as well," he said. Mr Jones said he would not let far right groups "scare or intimidate" him. But he added: "I'm obviously very concerned and worried - not simply about my own personal safety, but of others, and the fact that the far right feels increasingly emboldened and far right-types are feeling increasingly prepared to resort to thuggery and violence." Shadow attorney general Shami Chakrabarti said: "This is a very febrile moment in Britain - and I'm sure that everyone, regardless of their politics, will want to send their solidarity to Owen Jones." "The police will no doubt be concerned to investigate any political and homophobic motives behind what may be a very serious hate crime." Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott was one of hundreds of people to respond to Mr Jones's tweet about the incident, saying: "The times we live in are increasingly dark and dangerous". |
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Far right AND homophobic ? Surprised there's no suggestion of a racial motive as well
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Marvellous ,it will all be on cctv ,we don't want another Oweny Smollet type incident do we?
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How does he know it was the far right, plenty hate him.
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jeez has he got a book coming out? No arrests made btw. It would not surprise if he didn't start it. Maybe someone asked his friend a question & he kept on interrupting saying "i really need to say this"
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How does he know it was the far right, plenty hate him.
Because that suits his agenda. |
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He said that he and his friends went to a pub and left at 3am. “We were about 30 metres away, saying goodbye to each other, when four men charged directly towards me: one of them karate kicked my back, threw me to the ground, started kicking me in the head and back, while my friends tried to drag them off, and were punched trying to defend me. “It was clearly a premeditated attack and I was their target. They all attacked me and only assaulted my friends when they tried to defend me.
“In the past year I’ve been repeatedly targeted in the street by far right activists, including attempts to use physical assault, and homophobic abuse. I’ve had a far-right activist taking pictures of me, and posting threatening messages and a video. “Because of this, and escalating threats of violence and death, I’ve had the police involved. My friends felt it was a matter of time until this happened. Give the context, it seems unthinkable that I was singled out for anything other than a politically motived premeditated attack.” He blamed the attack on “the rise of an emboldened far right, which is increasingly violent, and targeting minorities and people on the left”. “They are being radicalised by mainstream politicians and a disturbingly large segment of the mainstream media.” |
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The Metropolitan police said: “[A man in his thirties] was attacked by up to four males, who also assaulted his friends when they attempted to intervene. None of those injured required hospital treatment or London ambulance service. No arrests have been made.”
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Mr Corbyn tweeted: "Owen believes it was politically motivated, and we know the far right is on the march in our country.
Yes, we do Jeremy, it's called Islam. |
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I can't believe Owen would try a Smollet.
Though I wonder if this is as simple as it is presented. As Ibrahima says, Owen Jones has a lot of arguments and violence from the British left is not unheard of. |
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1 Politically motivated.
2 Homophobic. 3 Because he is odious to some. Or a combination of all 3. |
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I can't believe Owen would try a Smollet.
Beat me to it Would need to see the evidence before believing any motives |
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obnoxious brats get a slap all the time in bars. 99.9% of the time i doubt if political motivation is mentioned
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I'm sure if Tommy Robinson was beaten up in similar circumstances, chit chatters would come to the same 'he brought this on himself' conclusion within 20 minutes of hearing the news...
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he'd get 12 months for hitting a thug with his chin
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He claims to have been 'targetted' yet admits he was karate kicked in the back .
Surely if you target an individual you are far more likely to recognise them from the front ? ........... Unless you are more familiar with their rear view . Possibly an ex-lover ?  |
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Tommy IS a thug. Can't get locked up for hitting yourself. Sectioned, maybe.
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While I don't condone this what I'd like to know is how he or anyone knows they were "far right" and not pissed up "that's that d1ck who we saw off the telly" or homophobic chavs???
Pretty much everyone I know has been attacked at some point for no reason on nights out. Did they have nazi tattoos on their neck or leave calling cards? I'm being 100% serious. Out of all the motives for an unprovoked attack which happen far too often, how can he possibly know the political stance of the people? |
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I do realise due to the laws of the internet, that even asking a reasonable question means I'm a fascist. So snowflakes who are incapable of adult discussion .. fire away...
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He likes to play the LGBT victim card his performance on Sky News after that nightclub shooting was one of the worst shows of arrogance I've ever seen on there,imo should never have been allowed back on such a platform.
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Thinks everybody is against him because of his politics when its actually because he comes across as a spoiled little child in interviews.
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You've no problem with his politics then aka?
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What a surprise that when you start pandering to the far rights that the sort of activities always associated with the far rights increase.
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Not as such MDH but I do have issues with the way he puts them across.
As a comparison I would suggest Chris Bryant who whilst left wing, and co-incidentally also homosexual, manages to put his arguments forward without the smear and disingenuous methods of Jones. |
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Quelle surprise
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Was he taken to Hospital after this Vicious attack by NAZI THUGS , he appears to gave Received a right Kicking by these dangerous thugs including a a kick to the Head , I hope he is ok ..
Once again More violence in Jezza's manor  |
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He didn't need any treatment.
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From the Horses Mouth ::
This is a bit dramatic, so firstly I’m fine, but last night - when I was celebrating my birthday - I was attacked, along with my friends, in a blatant premeditated assault. The group then scarpered: I don’t know if they said anything in the melee. I’m fine other than a big bump on my head and a cut back. Given the far right attacks I’ve had in the streets, and generally escalating far right threats I’ve had, I’m in no doubt as to what this is. Has he not reported Previous Attacks ? Given the far right attacks I’ve had in the streets, and generally escalating far right threats I’ve had, I’m in no doubt as to what this is. Yes the Islington Pubs must be Full of Nazi Types ... Owen , Lets hope the CCTV catches the Culprit/s of this Shocking news . |
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The group then scarpered: I don’t know if they said anything in the melee. I’m fine other than a big bump on my head and a cut back.
"I don’t know if they said anything in the melee" Well then why does he think it was a NAZI THUG ATTACK ?? Dear me people Post Things out of their heads ,would imagine 2 hours sleep if any ,And then they come round the shock of what they have Done must be Immense , Let hope the CCTV backs him up  Dear me . |
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Can you Imagine the Discussion on Removing the TWEETS ,and being told not to ,half the world has seen them
 I bet : Attacked by Pished up white Kids who had not a Clue who he was 10-1 A mugging by local community YUTE 10-1 Battered by his Mates for being a complete cxxxt 5-2 A complete load of of shyte Fellover Pished Evens Chaps of the book Homophobic attack 10-1 Pre planned attack by NAZI THUGS who lay in wait till 3 am outside the pub knowing there would be full CCTV Coverage 1000-1 Unless of course was one NAZI THUG suffering from mental illness ..who has pictures of Hitler in his Bedroom |
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Given the location could have been a pink on pink incident.
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Oh, I really have seen it all now. The Lib Dems oppose a temporary Stop No Deal government led by Corbyn, who supports a new referendum, and instead support a government led by Ken Clarke, who opposes a referendum and repeatedly voted for Theresa May's deal. Amazing.
Was his First Post after the ATTACK  3 hours later we get the Attack tweets |
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If ever a man needed CCTV Coverage ,Its Mr Jones
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If this was a planned attack by genuine thugs they've done a p!ss poor job wouldn't think it'd take much to give Jones and his bandit pals a pasting yet there's F ALL wrong with him,if anyone was going to risk doing bird they'd make a proper job of it.
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Chase me!
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seems like plenty think its fair enough for people to be attacked in the street , not a great fan of his but its still bang of of order
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Andrew Neill (NAP)
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It won't be the first,or last time Owen is "jumped" by 4 guys.
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Jonesy seems pretty chirpy, I doubt if he was beaten up as there are no reports of hospital treatment for our little warrior.
It said he was kicked in the head. What were they wearing women's slippers? They're certainly making a meal of it, and the publicity won't do is job at the Guardian any harm at all. Sounds like a put up job to me. |