Owen Jones was attacked by a group of up to four men.
 

[Owen Jones has been physically
assaulted in London while celebrating
his 35th birthday with friends.
In an attack he called
“a blatant premeditated assault”,
Jones said he was kicked,
punched and thrown to the ground by
a group of men in the early hours
of Saturday morning.
He said that he and his friends went
to a pub and left at 3am.
“We were about 30 metres away,
saying goodbye to each other,
when four men charged directly towards me:
one of them karate kicked my back,
threw me to the ground,
started kicking me in the head
and back, while my friends tried
to drag them off, and were
punched trying to defend me.]

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...ack-pub-london




This was a Evil Attack.

Disgusting, I hope they're caught and punished.

Far right attacking a journalist for having an opinion

We don't know the motives, it could easily have been random or homophobic, or maybe he was mouthing off in the pub - pretty likely, based on his character.

It wouldn't make it excusable, but there's no reason to assume it's because of his "journalism".

That's what he thinks. I feel he's right. Let's see if they get caught

With a bit of luck..there was cctv if it was close to the bar.

Yes or even anti gay.

Hope they get who did this.
Hope he recovers soon.

Perhaps a bit early to lay blame in any quarter of who is responsible.

I'd guess Owen and his friends will have heard some comments the attackers made.
To indicate why they chose to make the senseless attack.

More than one to one indicate dangerous cowardly thugs at least

The Guardian columnist and activist Owen Jones has been physically assaulted in London while celebrating his 35th birthday with friends.

In an attack he called “a blatant premeditated assault”, Jones said he was kicked, punched and thrown to the ground by a group of men in the early hours of Saturday morning.

He said that he and his friends went to a pub and left at 3am. “We were about 30 metres away, saying goodbye to each other, when four men charged directly towards me: one of them karate kicked my back, threw me to the ground, started kicking me in the head and back, while my friends tried to drag them off, and were punched trying to defend me.

“It was clearly a premeditated attack and I was their target. They all attacked me and only assaulted my friends when they tried to defend me.

“In the past year I’ve been repeatedly targeted in the street by far right activists, including attempts to use physical assault, and homophobic abuse. I’ve had a far-right activist taking pictures of me, and posting threatening messages and a video.

“Because of this, and escalating threats of violence and death, I’ve had the police involved. My friends felt it was a matter of time until this happened. Give the context, it seems unthinkable that I was singled out for anything other than a politically motived premeditated attack.”

He blamed the attack on “the rise of an emboldened far right, which is increasingly violent, and targeting minorities and people on the left”.

He added: “They are being radicalised by mainstream politicians and a disturbingly large segment of the mainstream media.”

The Metropolitan police said: “[A man in his thirties] was attacked by up to four males, who also assaulted his friends when they attempted to intervene. None of those injured required hospital treatment or London ambulance service. No arrests have been made.”

Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief of the Guardian and Observer, said: “We deplore the outrageous attack on Owen Jones that took place late last night. Violent assaults on journalists or activists have no place in a democratic society.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn sent a message of “solidarity” to Jones. He said: “Owen believes it was politically motivated, and we know the far right is on the march in our country.

“An attack on a journalist is an attack on free speech and our fundamental values.”

Labour MP Diane Abbott also condemned the attack on Twitter: “Shocking to hear about this attack on you & your friends. The times we live in are increasingly dark and dangerous. You have all my love & support. Solidarity.”

Jones thanked his friends “who were assaulted defending me and who I love very much.”
The Guardian

At least he was on the news.

Probably some drunken louts that cant hold their booze Oliver, :wavey:

What a funny story.

Just trying to think what Owen Jones "mouthing off" in a pub would look like. It seems ridiculously unlikely to me.

"it wouldn't make it excusable" but here you are trying to excuse it anyway.

I didn't say it was end excuse, I think it's more likely to be random or motivated by something that happened that night than some dumb thugs recognising him for his activism.

Owen Jones does regularly go to the pub, I've seen him tweeting many times from the pub. He's very, very opinionated and regularly mouths off, so it doesn't seem unlikely to me.

Well we know for sure he wouldn't have been "tryin' it on wiv me bird", and I'm also pretty sure he wouldn't have been mouthing off, offering dudes out.

If the right was as good at real gymnastics as mental gymnastics, the Chinese and Russians would never even sniff a medal at the olympics.

I was expecting the deflection and I wasn't disappointed... it was a far right premeditated attack on a well known figure from the left.
It's insulting your own intelligence to suggest a group of men would have to stake out one gay man in a bar in order to attack him for his sexuality, when there have been gay pride marches up and down the country for weeks...you are aware if how pathetic that comment was as a reason behind this is surely?

It's ok though I know it wasn't meant to be taken seriously, it's just to downplay the fact that we now have marauding right wing fascist thugs on our streets attacking journalists.

Where are the protectors of free speech now, when it's left leaning voices who are being targetted?.. eerily silent.

Can just imagine OJ rocking up to some bitters pub in wigan singing "merry christmas, Everton".

Milkshakes bring all the boys to the yard.

:umm2: finding assault funny

Is it a crime to?

:joker: :joker:

I wouldn't expect any more from you alf.

Oh yeah I forgot Pride marches make it impossible for homophobia to exist.

That wasn't the point there try again.