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Ian Tomlinson - IPCC drags feet on investigating police despite overwhelming evidence

[update: 23:00 BST 7 April]

From protesters and bystanders to the police - Gotcha.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/apr/07/video-g20-police-assault
Exclusive footage obtained by the Guardian shows Ian Tomlinson, who died during G20 protests in London, was attacked from behind by baton–wielding police officer

Dramatic footage obtained by the Guardian shows that the man who died at last week's G20 protests in London was attacked from behind and thrown to the ground by a baton–wielding police officer in riot gear.

Moments after the assault on Ian Tomlinson was captured on video, he suffered a heart attack and died.

The Guardian is preparing to hand a dossier of evidence to the police complaints watchdog. more

Protesters, and the writer of this blog was one of them, have been vindicated in very short order, although it will come as no consolation to the family of Ian Tomlinson.

The Guardian/Observer has been the only national paper to take seriously from the beginning the claims of police brutality by protesters.

More soon.

From earlier post

Ian Tomlinson video witness: 'Police are murderers'. How long does it take for the Independent Police Complaints Commission to decide that it needs to open an investigation? The statement from 2 April still hasn't been updated
When all the available information has been assessed, the IPCC will make a decision about the level of involvement it needs to have in progressing the investigation into this case. more
Our live G20 posts on the day here


• We would firstly like to express condolences to the family and friends of Ian Tomlinson who died on Wednesday.

• Multiple witnesses have now come forward who saw Mr. Tomlinson before his death on Wednesday.

• We now have compelling evidence that Ian Tomlinson’s death may have been caused by the police – eye-witnesses have confirmed to us that he was pushed back from police lines, falling heavily and hitting his head, prior to his collapse.

• He was initially treated by protesters and their statements raise questions about the police meeting their duty of care to Mr.Tomlinson.

• The family should contact an independent lawyer immediately to arrange a second Post Mortem – this is their right. The family should be independently represented at the inquest that will follow. This must be a jury inquest.

• Our aim is to establish the truth and let the public know. We will use the internet and the press to put all the information we gather into the public domain.

• Witnesses will cooperate fully with the Independent Police Complaints Commission, however we remain skeptical about their process of investigation and the eventual outcome and we call for a full public inquiry to look into Mr. Tomlinson’s death and the police tactics used throughout the G20 protests.

• We ask the family to contact us urgently and not to rely on what they are being told by the police – the police are not independent and are likely to see the defence of their own members and organisation as their prime aim. We ask the family to urgently contact INQUEST on 0207 263 1111 so we can put them in touch with these witnesses.

Thanks to London Indymedia
More witnesses quoted in Observer/Guardian

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