Alastair Thompson Profile picture
Climate, Conflict, Politics, Africa. Editor https://t.co/b6HbxvmnsV (NZ) Reporting from France. https://t.co/LNVK0y9IS7 #nzpol #DesertRain

Jun 16, 2023, 17 tweets

This is my video of what happened. Ina and I were sitting in the airport bus stop, she was farewelling me after #BonnClimateConference

We heard screaming and I went to investigate. And was attacked twice by the guy with the walkie talkie.

This guy tried to attack me as I was filming the assault on the woman on the ground. This is towards the end of the video.

After a police arrived Ina-Maria tried to tell them what had happened. As she had seen the woman earlier. It is possible that the attack was actually homophobic in nature not racist. As it all happened very quickly it was confusing.

Moments later a second one of the three thugs involved in the attack turned up but fortunately a cop turned up to stop them confronting me and Ina-Maria.

Screenshots of the original assault of the woman - who was not arrested - as I approached.

And as he advances toward me.

This is the point at which the guy kneeling on the woman notices me and points - letting the guy on the right know it’s being filmed.

Sone more images of the second guy.

Bare in mind that according to the policeman and woman I spoke to these guys accused the woman of “spitting on their food” and it seemed they thought it was within their rights to hold her until police arrived. I told the police that it… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

The third guy here in the final picture was involved in the second attempt to attack me during which the short guy with the walkie talkie grabbed my phone and threw it into the street. As they approached I yelled for the police and the turned up just in time. A kind member of the… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

That’s @IMariashikongo’s hat there between me and the guy.

Those above are video sills taken by the camera after the short guy grabbed it and threw it.

After I got my phone back I was told not to film anymore, more than once. Ina and I spoke to police explaining what had happened they kept repeating the story about the woman spitting which seems to have been the claimed justification by the three large strong grown men - one… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Once on the bus I took these pictures and was told again I am not allowed to by a police support officer wearing black. At this point I just wanted to get out of Bonn.

I am ok. [Thanks @markcubey for asking] and on my way home. But I confess a little rattled.

My understanding is that no one is as arrested, neither the women nor the three men. Ina remained long enough to hear from the woman and witnesses that the claimed spitting incident was… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

One final observation. This was not the only incident in that airport bus stop this evening that resulted in the police being called. Earlier a man came by and threatened an older gentleman in the bus stop by pointing to him and making a throat cutting gesture. A member of the… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

In conclusion this is what I saw immediately after the woman’s screaming started.

I’d like to hear from anyone who thinks this shows anything other than four large men assaulting a woman. And deliberately holding her in stress positions.

And/or any legal explanation for how… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.

A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.

Keep scrolling