Petrol bombs seized as swoop by 160 police sparks Bristol riots

Police have been accused of a heavy-handed response after a riot broke out in Bristol city centre overnight and petrol bombs were seized.

The unrest started when about 160 officers in full riot gear swooped on a house to arrest four people they said were "a real threat to the community".

Eight officers were hurt in the disturbance during which they were involved in what eyewitnesses described as running battles with hundreds of protesters.

The crowd dug up cobbles from the road to throw at the police and a nearby branch of Tesco Metro was petrol-bombed.

The supermarket opened a week ago despite some opposition in the Stokes Croft neighbourhood, which has a number of squats and few chain stores.

Jessie Webb, who works at the Croft pub, said the police were "heavy-handed" towards a crowd which initially turned up to watch the arrest operation.

He said: "The police caused it (the riot]. They turned up in large numbers and it attracted a crowd. Then they charged into them."

A 22-year-old, who did not want to be named, said he was hit with a baton despite not being involved in the protest.

"I saw them (police] hitting people who were definitely not involved," he said. "They were doing random charges and cracking people indiscriminately."

Avon and Somerset Constabulary said their actions during the "robust operation" in Cheltenham Road from about 9.15pm on Thursday were fully justified.

Assistant Chief Constable Rod Hansen said: "Residents have called us to several incidents in the property over the past few days. There was a very real threat to the community from petrol bombs that were being made and we needed to take positive action.

"The safety of the public is paramount and we took the decision to carry out a swift arrest operation, following intelligence received about the criminal intentions of those who were occupying the building.

"The fact that we seized petrol bombs illustrates the seriousness of this situation."

About 300 people had congregated, he said, and, a minority started fires and threw bottles, stones and other items at officers.

Three people were arrested on suspicion of public order offences and one on suspicion of threats to cause criminal damage with intent to endanger life.