Detectives scour CCTV after left-wing political commentator Owen Jones told how he was beaten up outside London pub in ‘premeditated assault’
- Left-wing commentator Owen Jones attacked in Islington while out with friends
- Guardian columnist said he was kicked in the head after leaving a London pub
- He described the attack outside the pub as a ‘blatant premeditated assault’
Police are scouring CCTV footage to try and find the gang who attacked left-wing political commentator Owen Jones in a ‘blatantly premeditated assault’.
The Guardian columnist said he was kicked in the head after leaving the Lexington pub in Islington with friends when he was followed by a gang in London at about 3am yesterday.
He took to social media to relay his ordeal and said: ‘Six of us left the pub and were saying our goodbyes 30 metres away, then a group of three to four men left the pub, made a beeline for me, kicked me in the back, threw me on the ground, slamming my head, and kicked me in the skull.’
Left-wing political commentator Owen Jones was attacked yesterday in what he said was a ‘blatant premeditated assault’. Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott tweeted: ‘Shocking to hear about this attack’
The Guardian columnist said he was kicked in the head after leaving the Lexington pub (pictured) in Islington with friends and being followed by a gang in London at about 3am yesterday
In an interview with the BBC he said that new evidence has emerged which suggests ‘political reasons’ behind his attack but said he couldn’t go into detail at the moment.
He wrote on Twitter: ‘My friends were punched trying to defend me. The group then scarpered. I’m fine other than a big bump on my head and a cut back.’
Mr Jones, 35, a prominent anti-Brexiteer, added: ‘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.’
He carried on to say: ‘What happened – to be clear – is they spotted me in the pub, waited for us to leave, and then launched their attack when we were away from the pub – it was planned, not a random attack.’
Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott tweeted: ‘Shocking to hear about this attack.’
The Metropolitan Police said a reported assault in Pentonville Road, Islington, was being probed, adding: ‘CCTV will be reviewed. A number of witnesses have been spoken to.’
The Guardian columnist said he was kicked in the head after leaving a pub with friends and being followed by a gang in London at about 2am. He tweeted about the incident, above