A MAN has been injured after claiming he was attacked with a “petrol bomb” while hanging up St George’s Cross flags.
The man, aged in his 30s, suffered a cut to his head after “appearing to be struck by a glass bottle containing a lit rag”, police said.
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Posting on social media, the group Stevenage Patriots shared a video saying the man had been putting up English flags in the Hertfordshire town when he was “attacked”.
The clip shows a fire burning on the pavement next to a car, understood to be owned by one of the group.
The man who filmed the clip can be heard saying: “Move you car bruv, move your car,” as flames rise up from the ground.
He continues: “F***ing petrol bomb. Move the car bruv.
“Putting flags up [and] got petrol bombed.”
Some of the group can then be seen entering a van to leave the scene.
Later, the injured man can be seen with blood streaking down his face and hands as well as on his hoodie.
Other members of the group appear to apply bandages to the man’s head while the cameraman explains: “Patriots putting the other patriot together.
“We’ve just been attacked with a petrol bomb. Police are here.”
Another person can be heard asking if the man’s hand has also been cut, referring to “lumps of flesh” being seen “hanging”.
Then, another says: “Why are people such cowards?”, in reference to the throwers of the “petrol bomb”.
Turning to a police officer attending the scene, the cameraman asks what he thinks of the situation, to which the cop replies: “No comment.”
In the video, the group explains they had just “finished the night” after hanging up flags for “three hours” when the attack took place.
The cameraman says: “A petrol bomb was thrown at the car [and it] smashed straight onto his head.
A voice can be heard referring to those responsible as “absolute scumbags” and “cowards”.
Stills at the end of the video show the shattered remains of what appears to be an alcohol spirit bottle on the pavement next to a rag as well as scorch marks on the ground.
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Hertfordshire Police confirmed it had attended the scene after a man in his 30s suffered a cut to the head after “appearing to be struck by a glass bottle containing a lit rag”.
The force said it was called to reports a man had been assaulted in Fairlands Way at 12.09am on Saturday, adding that the man was taken to Lister Hospital in Stevenage for treatment.
Stevenage Chief Inspector Sarah Gilbertson said: “It appears the victim was struck by a glass bottle containing a lit rag and sustained a cut to his head.
“I know that this incident will concern people living locally, but I would like to reassure the community that this was a contained incident.
“Our investigation continues and anyone with information is asked to get in touch with police.”
This comes as groups across the country have vowed to put up St George’s Cross flags after some councils were seen removing them.
After English flags in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets were taken down “as part of routine maintenance”, enraged locals vowed to put up more flags, inspiring similar movements nationwide.
