Girl kicks swan while it is mating in vile attack caught on camera as police chief issues appeal to track her down
- Girl was part of a group hanging around by a canal in Limehouse, East London
- Footage shows her kicking the swan and following it as it hides behind a boat
- An onlooker is then pushed in the water by a boy after he tried to intervene
- Do you know the girl who kicked the swan? Email luke.may@mailonline.co.uk
Police are trying to track down a girl who kicked a swan while it appeared to be mating in a canal on Friday afternoon.
A group of around 10 people could be seen gathering around the edge of the water in Limehouse, East London on Friday, before one girl lowers herself from the pavement and lashes out at the swan, which appeared to be mating.
The girl and her friends follow the swan behind a group, where it flees after being kicked from above.
A furious onlooker marches toward the group waving a pole at the group, unhappy with the vile attack.
The furious onlooker marched toward the group with a pole after a girl kicked a swan that appeared to be mating in Limehouse canal, East London
As an argument starts to break out, a boy in a blue t-shirt and cap appears from off camera and pushes the onlooker into the canal.
The boy, wearing black short and a pair of sliders, is then seen riding away on a scooter, shouting ‘have that’.
Superintendent Andy Cox from Metropolitan Police said: ‘Awful viewing. Animal cruelty is an indicator of many other vile behaviours and a tendency towards other forms of violence.
![A boy wearing a blue shirt and a black baseball cap pushes the man into the water below](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/06/28/14/30149272-8468005-image-a-88_1593351857043.jpg)
A boy wearing a blue shirt and a black baseball cap pushes the man into the water below
‘The assault & anti social behaviour needs our action. Help us by letting us know who these offenders are via 101 or confidentially via crimestoppers.’
Twitter users reacted to the shocking footage, former police officer Mike Pannett wrote: ‘Who knew how deep that water was? That could have ended up in life changing injuries to that brave young man.
‘Vile cowards and bullies of the highest order.’
Terry Morgan wrote: ‘Thought swans were protected? Even if not still shocking behaviour. Hope they are identified and caught. Scum bags.’
Some viewers were confused by the footage and thought the girl was trying to separate the swan.
![The group watches on as the onlooker, still clutching on to his pole, falls into the canal in Limehouse](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/06/28/15/30149268-8468005-The_group_watches_on_as_the_onlooker_still_clutching_on_to_his_p-a-19_1593353604713.jpg)
The group watches on as the onlooker, still clutching on to his pole, falls into the canal in Limehouse
![With the man who confronted them in the water, the group walks off. The boy who pushed him can later be seen riding away on a scooter](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/06/28/14/30149264-8468005-image-a-90_1593352135051.jpg)
With the man who confronted them in the water, the group walks off. The boy who pushed him can later be seen riding away on a scooter
One viewer wrote: ‘These individuals were trying to stop one swan from attacking another. They were not attacking the swan!’
Another Twitter user points out: ‘They were mating.’
The RSPCA echoed the police’s call for witnesses, tweeting: ‘If anyone has further information on these individuals, please contact us on 0300 1234 999.’
- Did you see what happened? Contact luke.may@mailonline.co.uk to tell us more.