A man in his 30s is recovering in hospital after being hit by a van during a confrontation between residents and members of the far-right group Raise the Colours in Birmingham on Thursday night. The incident occurred on Pershore Road in the Stirchley suburb at around 10pm. According to The Guardian, which spoke to three witnesses present that evening, about 10 residents had gathered to take down union flags that Raise the Colours had put up earlier in the day.
The man suffered a broken leg that required surgery. The van did not stop after hitting him but was later recovered on nearby Prince Road and is now being examined by police. West Midlands Police confirmed they are reviewing CCTV and social media footage to piece together exactly what happened. The force said in a statement that the vehicle was recovered and investigations are continuing.
Witnesses told The Guardian that men wearing Raise the Colours branded jumpers arrived while the flags were being removed and became aggressive. One resident said she was punched by a man wearing a Raise the Colours hoodie. Video footage she shared with The Guardian showed the same individual tearing a face mask off another woman and members of the group calling residents "traitors to your own country." The injured man's friend said he lay on the ground alone for some time after being hit because he was too frightened to call out in case the van returned. She stayed with him in the hospital until 3am.
Raise the Colours co-founder Ryan Bridge told the BBC the area had been taken over by the "far-left" and said the group does not condone violence. He said he had no knowledge of the crash. Local Labour MP Al Carns wrote to the acting chief constable of West Midlands Police after being contacted by dozens of residents describing harassment and physical assault by Raise the Colours members.
Raise the Colours has put up thousands of union and St George flags across England. Last month Oxfordshire county council issued a legal notice banning the group from doing so after residents and staff reported threats and abuse. Community group Brummies United Against Racism has called on newly elected councillors to take urgent action against the organisation.
