The statue of Edward Colston is ripped down by protestersCredit: Twitter
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A protester kneels on the statues neck in scenes similar to the death of George FloydCredit: PA:Press Association
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The statue has now been chucked in the riverCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
The protesters could then be seen jumping up and down on the toppled statue as it came crashing to the ground.
It has now been rolled into the river after being dragged towards the water by a group of jubilent protesters.
Avon and Somerset Police superintendent Andy Bennett said tonight the force is hunting a small group of people “who clearly committed an act of criminal damage” after the statue was downed.
Activists have gathered in Bristol as part of a largely peaceful worldwide Black Lives Matter protest against the death of George Floyd in the US.
The bronze figure of slave trader Colston has been in the city centre since 1895.
But it has repeatedly come under attack by protesters - with pressure mounting on authorities to remove it.
Statue of Edward Colston is thrown into river after being pulled down in Bristol
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The statue was rolled towards the water by cheering protestersCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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It was then rolled into the water as the jubilent crowd watched onCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
A signature this week calling for the statue to be removed in the wake of Floyd's death received more than 11,000 signatures.
Slave ships owned by Colston in the 17th Century transported tens of thousands of people from Africa to the Americas.
Thousands have gathered in Bristol for the nationwide protest - with an eight minute silence held to mark how long the police officer knelt on Floyd's neck.
Activists in face masks are holding placards reading "I can't breathe" to echo the final words of Floyd after white police officer Derek Chauvin held him down by kneeling on his neck.
Others have taken a kneel in solidarity with those of who have accused police of brutality on a global scale.
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The statue was toppled by protesters in BristolCredit: PA:Press Association
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Protesters jump up and down on the statue todayCredit: Twitter
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It has since been spray-painted redCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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A protester stands on the toppled statueCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
Yesterday, the Winston Churchill statue was vandalised during Black Lives Matter protest in London's Parliament Square as the peaceful protest turned violent.
Pictures show police officers standing in front of the memorial with neon green graffiti defacing it on the 76th anniversary of D-Day.
It appears the world-famous memorial was defaced with letters ACAB - which is believed to stand for 'All Cops Are B******s'.
Other monuments were also damaged - including statues in Parliament Square daubed with the words "racist" and "f**k Boris".
A Minneapolis officer kneels on the neck of George Floyd
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George Floyd died after he was arrested by Minneapolis police
The death of dad Floyd, 46, has been classified as a homicide after an autopsy found his heart stopped as police restrained him and compressed his neck.
A separate autopsy commissioned for Floyd’s family also found he died of asphyxiation due to neck and back compression.
A further 77 people have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus - the lowest since the lockdown began.
No new deaths were recorded in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The Department of Health figures take total deaths with a positive test in all settings - including care homes - to 40,542.
However, the actual figure is believed to be more than 50,000 as many people are believed to have died with the virus in the community without being tested.
The latest daily UK update also showed another 1,326 people had tested positive for COVID-19 after 142,123 tests were carried out - with nearly 5.6 million done in total.
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Scotland recorded no new coronavirus deaths for the first time since lockdown started in March.
The daily figures for each UK nation are:
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Scotland - 0 new deaths - total remains 2,415
Northern Ireland - 0 new deaths - total remains 537
England - 72 new deaths - total hospital deaths 27,430 (36,192 in all settings)
Wales - 5 new deaths - total 1,398
Individual health authorities in the home nations collate their numbers at different times throughout the day and so they may not tally up to the UK government's overall daily total.
Image:There have been no new coronavirus-related deaths in Northern Ireland
Scotland's health secretary urged caution in "reading too much into today's figures" and reminded people that the number of deaths reported at the weekend is often lower.
"It is still very likely further COVID deaths will be reported in the days ahead," said Jeane Freeman.
As the trend for fewer deaths and cases in the UK nations continues, Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests could cause infections to rise.
Protests ‘undoubtedly a risk’ for infection
He told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday show: "Gathering in large groups is temporarily against the rules precisely because it increases the risk of the spread of this virus.
"So I would urge people to make their argument, and I will support you in making that argument, but please don't spread this virus which has already done so much damage and we are starting to get under control."
A further 77 people have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus - the lowest since the lockdown began.
The Department of Health figures take total deaths in all settings - including care homes - to 40,542.
The latest daily update also showed another 1,326 people had tested positive for COVID-19 after 142,123 tests were carried out.
Scotland and Northern Ireland reported no new coronavirus deaths for the first time since lockdown began, according to the countries' health authorities.
No new Coronavirus deaths have been recorded in Scotland's hospitals overnight, the Scottish Government has announced.
However, there has been a confirmed a rise in the number of positive case this afternoon, with 18 new cases reported bringing the total figure to 15,621.
A total of 646 people are currently in hospital, while the number of people in intensive care sits at 16, which is no change from the figures reported yesterday (Saturday).
This is the first time no coronavirus deaths from patients testing positive in hospital have been reported since March.
However, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon took to Twitter to say the figures are always lower on the weekend.
She wrote: "We can’t read too much into a single day’s figures - and we know registration of deaths are relatively low at weekends - but nevertheless this is a headline we’ve all longed to see."
It comes after Scotland moved from Phase 0 to Phase One last week which allowed us a bit more freedom after weeks of strict lockdown.
The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged caution as restrictions across the country are eased.
Coronavirus in Scotland
Face coverings could become mandatory in public places, such as a shop or on public transport.
Coronavirus in Scotland
Scottish ministers are considering implementing the measure after the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced it would be mandatory in England to wear a covering on public transport.
Scotland has reported no new coronavirus deaths for the first time since lockdown began back in March.
The number remains at 2,415, according to the Scottish government's latest daily figures.
Total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Scotland rose by 18 to 15,621, with 646 patients currently in hospital with the disease - 16 of whom were in intensive care as of last night.
Since 5 March, 3,801 people who had the disease have also been able to leave Scottish hospitals.
Scotland's health secretary Jeane Freeman urged caution in "reading too much into today's figures" and reminded people that the number of deaths reported at the weekend is often lower.
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"It is still very likely further COVID deaths will be reported in the days ahead," she said.
Image:Northern Ireland also reported no new COVID-19 deaths in the last day
Northern Ireland has also posted no new deaths related to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, keeping its total at 537, and just six new cases.
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The country has 465 people in hospital who are suspected or confirmed to have the disease, with seven in intensive care.
Some 6,987 people have been discharged since the outbreak began, according to Northern Ireland's department of health.
Latest figures for Wales and England have not yet been released.
