Builders inform how they caught Nigel Farage assault suspect
- Do you know the man who attacked Nigel Farage? Email [email protected]
A group of builders have told how they intervened to stop a man after he threw a coffee cup and a can at Nigel Farage during an open-top bus tour through Barnsley today.
The contractors rushed in to grab the man after he broke into their work site and began grabbing objects to pelt at the Reform leader.
Paul Stott, 52, said the man – who wore a red hoodie – left a nearby pro-refugee protest before running into his work area.
He told the Mail: ‘The man in a red hoodie was standing with the protestors at one point and then came over here.
‘He grabbed a can and a coffee cup from the bin here and threw them. There was no cement. There was a bottle there but fortunately he didn’t get hold of that.
Branding the man a ‘moron’, he added: ‘We turned him out of the compound. He then ran off but the police moved in quickly and grabbed him. There were tools here and our main concern was that the public should not be in this compound.’
It is the second time he has been targeted while campaigning for the general election after earlier being doused with a milkshake by an OnlyFans model in Clacton, Essex, last week.
The protestor, wearing a red hoodie, throws a coffee cup in the direction of the Reform party leader
The man is wrestled by workmen (left) and then led away by police (right) following the shocking incident in South Yorkshire this morning
The moment Mr Farage was targeted today by an attacker, who is not pictured, throwing objects during an open top bus tour in Barnsley
JUNE 4: Mr Farage had milkshake thrown over him during an election rally in Clacton
2019: The politician was also targeted with a milkshake while speaking to voters in Newcastle in the lead-up to the Brexit referendum
Prior to today’s incident in Barnsley, around 100 protestors had gathered in Eldon Street, Barnsley, and were attempting to drown out Mr Farage as he spoke to onlookers with a microphone from an open top bus.
The Reform leader said afterwards that he believed the objects were a coffee cup and wet cement.
He told reporters: ‘What we’ve now got is a mob that want to close down all debate, a mob that are prepared to use violence to achieve their goals, and that for a democratic country is very, very worrying indeed.’
Asked how he felt, Mr Farage added: ‘Me? I’m used to it. I don’t like it, of course not, this is stopping me doing what I want to do.
‘I’m at my best going out, meeting people and talking to them, having a debate with them, going around the pubs or whatever I do. And these violent youngsters are stopping me, it’s very, very frustrating.’
He posted the footage on X, saying: ‘My huge thanks to South Yorkshire Police today.
‘I will not be bullied or cowed by a violent left-wing mob who hate our country.’
Mr Farage later said the attack was ‘pretty nasty’.
Speaking while campaigning in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, he said that the police tipped them off early that it was ‘not a very good idea’ to leave the battlebus.
He said: ‘Protest is allowed. Protest is part of our democratic process. But protest needs to be within certain bounds. Protest does not involve chucking cement towards me, or even stones.
‘I don’t mind if someone shouts something rude at me, I would probably shout it back. But when it comes to violence that actually poses a real threat.’
He called the attack ‘violent’ and said he would be in hospital now if he had got off the bus.
He said he agrees that people who throw objects during campaigns should ‘absolutely’ go to jail.
Onlookers cheered as officers in Barnsley arrested the man who had thrown objects at Mr Farage.
South Yorkshire Police confirmed a 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of public order.
‘We have arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of public order offences following disorder in Barnsley town centre today,’ the force said.
‘It is believed that the man threw objects from a nearby construction area.
‘A suspect was quickly detained and remains in police custody.’
Mr Farage had been excitedly greeting Reform Party supporters on the top of the bus
A man hurls objects from a building site towards an open-top bus Mr Farage is standing in
Mr Farage ducked for cover after it became clear items were being thrown in his direction
The man holds a coffee cup in his left hand as workmen look on before rushing to grab him
The man is wrestled by a police officer after walking away from the scene in Barnsley
The man is arrested by officers in Barnsley. Mr Farage later thanked South Yorkshire Police
Mr Farage speaks from the top of the open-top bus before he is attacked (not by anyone pictured)
Anti-Farage protestors in Barnsley today. There is no suggestion anyone pictured attacked him
Earlier the Reform leader had his nails painted at n The Lash beauty salon in Hoyland
The politician was in good spirits when he began the open-top bus ride
Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, was charged with assault by beating and criminal damage when a milkshake was thrown over Mr Farage as he left the Moon and Starfish Wetherspoon pub in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex on Tuesday last week.
The incident led to wide condemnation from MPs all across the political spectrum including Labour’s Yvette Cooper who called it a ‘disgrace’ and ‘completely unacceptable and wrong’.
Essex Police said: ‘A woman is due to appear in court following an incident in Clacton.
‘Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, will appear at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 2 July to answer charges of assault by beating and criminal damage.
‘The charges relate to an incident in which a drink was thrown at a man in the area of Marine Parade East, Clacton, at around 2.10pm on Tuesday 4 June.
‘A 44-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker has been released and will face no further action.’
It prompted condemnation from MPs all across the political spectrum including Labour’s Yvette Cooper who called it a ‘disgrace’ and ‘completely unacceptable and wrong’.
The Clacton incident had echoes of 2019, when he fell victim to a similar stunt in Newcastle.
His assailant was later ordered to carry out community work and pay £350 in compensation.
Mr Farage has made a dramatic return to the political frontline and also been installed as Reform UK leader in place of Richard Tice.
CLACTON: Mr Farage was hit by a milkshake last week when he stepped out of a Wetherspoons pub
Mr Farage was flanked as usual by burly security as he left a pub, but they could do nothing as the contents of what appeared to be a McDonald’s cup is flung towards him
Victoria Thomas-Bowen pictured last week after she was charged with criminal damage and assault
Thomas-Bowen will appear at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on July 2nd to answer the charges
It caught him full in the face, although he wiped his eyes and continued
