A grinning protester photographed giving a two-fingered salute while sprawled across the front of a torched police van at the height of the Bristol anarchy is the son of a senior civil servant working for the courts service, MailOnline can reveal.
With his hoodie and cargo pants, musician Richard Cooper, 27, looks every inch the anarchist, yet he could not come from a more respectable background.
His father Mark, 58, is a legal team manager for HM Courts and Tribunal Service in Kent, where Richard is believed to have been brought up, before moving to Bristol.
Dressed in a hoodie with cargo pants and boots and a roll-up dangling from his mouth, Cooper posed for this photo outside Bristol’s Bridewell police station during the riot on Sunday night while the mayhem reigned around him.
The ‘Kill the Bill’ protest had descended into a night of violence with the mob laying siege to the police station, and left 21 officers injured, two seriously, and led to seven arrests so far.
Dressed in a hoodie with cargo pants and boots and a roll-up dangling from his mouth, Cooper posed for this photo outside Bristol’s Bridewell police station during the riot on Sunday night while the mayhem reigned around him
According to neighbours, Richard is not known to have a police record
Properties and vehicles were smashed and burnt, bringing condemnation of the rioters’ ‘thuggery’ from Home Secretary Priti Patel.
It’s all a far cry from the peace and quiet of the Coopers’ neat £220,000 three-bedroom Victorian terrace behind a privet hedge in the Folkestone suburb of Cheriton.
His father Mark, 58, is a legal team manager for HM Courts and Tribunal Service
Neighbours described Mark Cooper and his wife Susan, 57, as polite, though one said their son ‘looked a rebel’.
Approached by MailOnline, Mr Cooper turned crimson-faced when shown the photo of his son posing in front of a police van amid the violence.
‘I’m not going to talk to you,’ he said before marching inside.
Given Mr Cooper’s position, dealing with lawyers, judges and police officers, his son’s appearance amid the carnage in Bristol will doubtless cause him grave embarrassment.
According to neighbours, Richard is not known to have a police record.
Despite his recent move to Bristol he has been spotted visiting the family home regularly. For a time he rented an identical property just a few doors up.
Richard’s uncle Ken, 60, of Romney Marsh, said Richard’s father Mark worked on sensitive family law cases.
‘All I know is he deals with child welfare.’
Asked if Richard had been involved in protest movements before, he said: ‘Not that I know of. I’d suggest he might have been led that way more than anything else.’
Staff at a local garage where Richard takes his Ford Focus for servicing were astonished to learn of his role in the Bristol protests.
‘He always pays his bills,’ one said.
Richard’s Facebook profile doesn’t appear overtly political and shows a young man enjoying himself, often with a drink in his hand and occasionally a large roll-up cigarette
He is described as a ‘musician’ in his listing as one of five company directors of short-lived Backwardsunmusic Ltd, which was dissolved last year
Richard’s Facebook profile doesn’t appear overtly political and shows a young man enjoying himself, often with a drink in his hand and occasionally a large roll-up cigarette.
He is described as a ‘musician’ in his listing as one of five company directors of short-lived Backwardsunmusic Ltd, which was dissolved last year.
The firm, which never lodged any accounts with Companies House, is thought to be linked to a rap track on Soundcloud also called Backward Sun, but it is not known whether Cooper performed on the song.
A major investigation into the violent disorder in Bristol is well underway with more than 100 officers and staff working on the inquiry.
A total of 21 officers were injured – two of them seriously – when they were violently confronted by people gathered outside the Bridewell Police Station in the city centre.
Thousands of people gathered on College Green for a peaceful protest earlier before
marches through the city centre via Broadmead and on to Castle Park.
Later a smaller number of protestors loitered outside Bridewell Police station, initially with a sit down protest.
But as the atmosphere descended into violent disorter, officers were attacked and threatened, police vehicles were torched and the police station’s exterior wrecked.
The Major Crime Investigation Team is leading the inquiry, with support from colleagues in CID, Operational Support, Intelligence and Forensics, to track down those responsible for the violence and damage.
Det Chief Supt Carolyn Belafonte said the investigation would be comprehensive and could result in the release of the largest number of images for wanted suspects in the force’s history.
She said: ‘What happened on the streets of Bristol on Sunday was nothing short of disgraceful and it’s provoked widespread condemnation over the past 24 hours.
‘We’ve been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and kindness that we’ve received from the public, as well as from organisations and agencies across the city. It’s greatly appreciated and means a lot to all the officers and staff who work day in, day out to keep the public safe.
‘We have an enormous amount of digital evidence to go through including CCTV footage, Body Worn Video, social media coverage and footage/photos provided by people at the scene.
‘We’ve already started receiving a large amount of digital material from the public, which we’re grateful for, but to ensure we capture all available evidence, we’ve set up a dedicated form via our website where people can provide video footage and photos
‘Once we’ve carried out an initial view of the material we’ve collated, we’ll be in a position to release images to the public to help us identify suspects. From what we’ve already collated, we’re confident more arrests are imminent.
‘A full forensic examination of the scene has been carried out today and this has resulted in forensic evidence being obtained, including fingerprints, which will also be used to help identify suspects.
‘This will be a lengthy investigation but we’re wholly committed to tracking down all those who engaged in the wanton disorder yesterday. To those who took part in this spree of offending, you can expect a knock at your door in the days or weeks to come – it may come sooner than you think.’
Detectives are hunting what they believe to be a ‘hardcore of serious criminals’ who infiltrated 3,000 legitimate demonstrators protesting the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill on Sunday.
Among the thousands who massed at the city’s College Green were members of known anarchist groups, and those hostile to law enforcement.
And with hours of CCTV, body-worn police camera footage and eyewitness videos posted online to pore over, investigators will be working to identify activists who could help them with their enquiries.
They will include those seen proudly posing above a burning police car in the city centre and celebrating in front of smouldering emergency vehicles.
Pictures have also captured moments of clear criminal damage being carried out, such as street furniture or roadworks equipment being destroyed and people invading a police station.
The local Bridewell police station was also trashed, 12 police vans were set on fire or damaged, windows were smashed with graffiti sprayed across walls and buildings.
Avon and Somerset Police’s Chief Constable Andy Marsh said: ‘This will undoubtedly lead to one of the biggest appeals for wanted suspects that we’ve ever done. There will be significant consequences for behaviour like this and we will leave no stone unturned’.
Wanted: Police release new pictures of 10 ‘Kill the Bill’ protestors they want to trace as they probe violent Bristol riot
- Bristol saw 3,000 legitimate demonstrators against a new law on Sunday
- But pictures have captured moments of clear criminal damage being carried out
- Officers have now issued pictures of ten people they want to speak to
Police are appealing for help identifying ten people as part of the investigation into the ‘Kill the Bill’ riots.
Bristol saw 3,000 legitimate demonstrators protesting the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill on Sunday, but pictures moments of clear criminal damage were pictured being carried out, such as street furniture or roadworks equipment being destroyed.
Officers from Avon and Somerset Police have now issued pictures of ten people they want to speak to in connection with the Bristol riots. Eight men aged between 20 and 44 arrested for violent disorder have been released under investigation.
One 28-year-old man from the Bedminster Down area of Bristol, appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court this morning.
He was charged with possessing an offensive weapon and is next due to appear at the same court on June 10.
Officers from Avon and Somerset Police have now issued pictures of ten people they want to speak to in connection with the Bristol riots
Officers from Avon and Somerset Police have now issued pictures of ten people they want to speak to in connection with the Bristol riots
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said it will be one of their biggest ever investigations
Pictured: Two of the ten people Avon and Somerset Police wish to speak to in connection with the Bristol event
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said it will be one of their biggest ever investigations.
They said: ‘We’re appealing for the public’s help to identify ten people we’d like to speak to as part of our investigation into the violent disorder in Bristol on Sunday.
‘A total of 21 officers were injured – two of them seriously – when they were violently confronted by people gathered outside the Bridewell Police Station in Bridewell Street.
‘Officers were attacked and threatened, police vehicles including a community police station were set on fire and criminal damage was caused to the police station exterior.
‘The disorder followed a protest in the city centre attended by an estimated 3,000 people.’
Police have released 10 pictures of people they would like to speak to in connection with Sunday’s events in Bristol
Officers from Avon and Somerset Police have now issued pictures of ten people they want to speak to in connection with the Bristol riots
Detective Chief Superintendent Carolyn Belafonte said: ‘The investigation into Sunday’s disgraceful scenes of violence will undoubtedly be one of the largest in Avon and Somerset Police’s history.
‘More than 100 officers and staff continue to work on the inquiry which is being led by our Major Crime Investigation Team.
‘Hundreds of hours of digital material has already been reviewed and images of the first 10 people detectives want to talk to about Sunday’s events have been identified and published on a gallery on our website.
‘Officers and staff are working their way through images and footage as quickly as they can but with more than two terabytes worth of CCTV footage as well as nearly 100 officers’ body worn video cameras and more than 100 videos already sent in by members of the public to review, this will take a considerable amount of time.
Rioters set police vehicles on fire as protesters clashed with officers in the shocking scenes on Sunday night
‘We expect to release images of many more people in the coming days and ask anyone who recognises anyone to contact us. We’d also ask anyone who recognises themselves in the images to pick up the phone and dial 101 or visit their nearest police station so we can arrange for officers to talk to you to get your account of events.’
Det Ch Supt added: ‘The incident attracted worldwide attention and we continue to be humbled by the incredible support shown to us from the public, as well as from organisations and agencies across the city and beyond.
‘The public response in particular has been nothing short of amazing and I want all those who’ve shown us support and kindness to know how much we appreciate it.
‘In addition to asking for help to identify the people in the images we’re releasing, we also continue to ask people to submit any footage or photos they may have captured of Sunday’s events. We’ve set up a dedicated form on our website where people can submit material or provide us with information.
‘Other lines of enquiry are also being progressed, including forensic evidence, which will help us identify those involved. We may have only arrested eight people so for but I guarantee we’re wholly committed to tracking down those who carried out offences and with the help of the public we will be making more arrests very soon.’
