Chinese consulate violence: No arrests made as detectives give update on 'complex' investigation

Police investigating an alleged assault inside the grounds of the Chinese consulate in Manchester say no arrests have been made so far.

In an update on Wednesday, Greater Manchester Police said detectives were 'diligently working through a lot of evidence and statements' to build up a timeline of events. The force also revealed the police officer who removed the man from the compound suffered a minor hand injury - and said its investigation would also consider how a peaceful protest turned violent.

A police chief, meanwhile, said there were 'many strands to this complex and sensitive inquiry' and that the investigation 'will take time'.

READ MORE: Senior Chinese diplomat reveals contents of letter sent to GMP and releases CCTV footage of consulate violence

The Chinese consulate - based on Denison Road in Rusholme - gave the M.E.N. footage from its own CCTV cameras, saying it would also share its footage with police, and claimed two members of its staff were assaulted when a protest outside the gates turned violent. The footage, shown above, was put together by the consulate from its CCTV footage, within which the red circles depict what the Chinese consulate claim is their staff being attacked.

The consulate also shared a letter written to police, in which they claimed a 'mob' of protestors 'stormed' its grounds after 'deeply offensive imagery and slogans' they described as 'threatening and insulting' were displayed. They alleged staff were shoved, then two men who were knocked to the ground were stamped on and kicked.

Police, however, have said their investigation was launched after 'a small group of men came out of the building and a man was dragged into the Consulate grounds and assaulted'.

The police update