EXCLUSIVE: A reporter covering the rallies in Southport, England, sparked by the tragic deaths of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event, was violently attacked and robbed by protesters. He also claimed that police initially denied his request for protection to escape to safety.
Jack Hadfield, a writer for Publica, recounted to Fox News Digital that he was surrounded, had his phone charger taken, and was struck so forcefully during the protest on Tuesday that a piece of his tooth broke off. Publica announced that it had to halt its protest coverage to ensure Hadfield’s safety.
“I am recovering well post-attack, although I am still a bit shaken,” he stated to Fox News Digital. “This experience hasn’t dissuaded me from covering events on-site; in fact, I’m viewing the chipped tooth as a battle scar!”
Hadfield arrived in Southport just before 5 p.m. on Tuesday and subsequently participated in a vigil honoring the three girls who were killed.
Seventeen-year-old Axel Rudakubana has been named as the suspect in the stabbings.
UK STABBING SPREE LEAVES 2 KIDS DEAD, 9 OTHERS INJURED AT TAYLOR SWIFT-THEMED EVENT: ‘DEEPLY SHOCKING’
Jack Hadfield reported being surrounded, having his phone charger stolen, and suffering a chipped tooth. (The Publica)
Following the vigil, Hadfield proceeded to St Luke’s Road to cover a protest that was set for 8 p.m. By that time, the demonstration had escalated into violence, with police vehicles being set ablaze and individuals throwing bricks at a mosque.
Authorities established two police lines around the mosque to manage the crowds. Hadfield noted that he moved between the groups to capture additional footage of the protest.
While walking east down Hawkshead St. towards St Luke’s Rd. around 10:40 p.m., Hadfield was identified as a journalist by someone in the crowd, who yelled for him to be attacked. Feeling threatened, he quickened his pace and believed he was the only journalist remaining in the area when he was recognized.
“One man attacked me, hitting my head, face, and body repeatedly,” Hadfield explained. “I ran further down the road until I reached the crossroads of Hawkshead St. and St. Luke’s Road, where a large crowd of a couple of hundred people was still present.”
“I found myself surrounded by 10-15 men, and I tried to clarify that I wasn’t with the mainstream media. They insisted that I delete my images and videos from my phone, which I did, although I was able to recover them later from the ‘Recently Deleted’ folder,” he recounted.
Calls were made for someone to take his phone, and a person attempted to snatch it from him, but he resisted and held onto his device.
Hadfield was pushed to the ground and struck again, causing his glasses to fall off. He was robbed of his phone charger, which was taken from a portable power bank in his backpack.
After retrieving his glasses and getting back on his feet, Hadfield “realized something was in my mouth and spat out a piece of my tooth that I hadn’t noticed had come loose during the assault.”
He ran to the police line he estimated was about 50-100 meters, or approximately 55-109 yards, down St. Luke’s Rd, dropping his broken tooth during his hurried escape.
“At the police line, the officers were initially unhelpful, claiming they couldn’t assist me and that I couldn’t remain there,” Hadfield recalled. “They directed me west, unfortunately leading me back toward the protest areas, and stated that I couldn’t be escorted at all.”
SOUTHPORT STABBING SPREE SUSPECT NAMED AFTER ATTACK THAT KILLED THREE CHILDREN
Jack Hadfield reported that he is recovering well from the incident, though he remains somewhat shaken. (The Publica)
After approximately ten minutes, Hadfield was informed that the police lines were extended further down St. Luke’s Road, so he proceeded in that direction.
“The officers who were farther away from the crowd were significantly more helpful,” he noted. “I couldn’t secure an ambulance or a taxi to the hospital, so I stayed with the police for over two hours until a friend made a 65-mile drive in the middle of the night to pick me up and take me home safely.”
On Wednesday, the police informed Hadfield that a crime report had been filed regarding the incident, but he expressed doubt that anything would come of it.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Hadfield chose to receive treatment in Manchester. A friend drove him to the Accident and Emergency Department at Manchester Royal Infirmary, where he was seen by a doctor at 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday after a two-and-a-half-hour wait. Doctors confirmed that he did not suffer a concussion or any major injuries.
He sustained bruises on his hands and face, a lump on his head, and both of his lips were torn. He was also able to have his tooth repaired on Wednesday.
