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Footage shows West Midlands Police officer dispersing crowd with baton
May 28, 2020
Footage has emerged showing a police officer using a baton in an attempt to disperse a crowd after a house fire.
Mohammed Hanif, who lives nearby, said it was "unreal how the police dealt with it".
The video, filmed by a resident in Small Heath, Birmingham, shows an officer using a baton and incapacitant spray.
West Midlands Police confirmed it used pava spray "in an attempt to disperse the crowd of 20-30 people".
The force spokeswoman added the situation "turned hostile" and three officers were assaulted, resulting in minor injuries .
Residents told the BBC they had gathered to help a family after the blaze on Hob Moor Road and Monica Road on Tuesday.
Image caption The fire is thought to have started accidentally
The footage was filmed as emergency services responded to the blaze at about 01:30 BST.
Mr Hanif said people gathered to help the family whose house was ablaze but "there was no aggression".
He said: "It's just unreal how the police dealt with it... if they had spoken to us and told us to move along, but the thing was we were outside our house, we were there because we were helping out the neighbours.
"We weren't thinking about breaking the law [around social distancing]," he said.
Latest news and updates from the West Midlands
A man who lives in the house, who wishes to remain anonymous, was treated for smoke inhalation and claims he was hit with a baton on his leg by an officer.
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