Police were called to London’s City Hall today after a security guard was apparently knocked unconscious following a protest by black cab drivers.
Tony Arbour, deputy chairman of the London Assembly, said several security staff were “punched, pushed and verbally abused” after disruption at the Mayor’s Question Time.
Boris Johnson had earlier been forced to abandon the meeting after taxi drivers began shouting from the public gallery when he branded them “luddites”.
Hundreds of cabbies had gathered at City Hall amid ongoing criticism of Transport for London’s handling of regulation for private hire car companies, including the taxi app Uber.
Police were called after some taxi drivers refused to leave the chamber when the meeting was halted, before dozens then tried to force their way in to the building, a spokeswoman for Greater London Authority said.
Mr Johnson said he was “shocked” following the incident, while Scotland Yard said it had received two allegations of assault but no arrests had been made.
Mr Arbour said: “Today’s disruption at Mayor’s Question Time was unnecessary and unfortunate.
“Several members of the City Hall security team were punched, pushed and verbally abused . One was knocked unconscious and taken to hospital . Our understanding is that his condition is now stable and we wish him well soon.”
Mr Arbour said the meeting was halted “as a result of interruptions from the public gallery” and continued in another location.
He added: “The assembly is fully aware of the depth of feeling within the licensed taxi industry – but this kind of disruption is unhelpful to the fight for their livelihoods.
“Attending City Hall meetings to watch London government in action is encouraged – but verbal and physical attacks are not.”
The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) said many black cab drivers had been unable to sit in the chamber’s public gallery because 150 TfL graduates had been allowed access to the meeting.
Steve McNamara, general secretary of the LTDA, said: “We deeply regret anybody being hurt .
Many people were unable to access the meeting because TfL put 150 graduates into the chamber . The question needs to be asked; why they needed to be in there?”
Len Duvall, leader of the London Assembly Labour group, said: “Whilst there is no excuse for the disruptive, and in some cases violent, actions of some in the audience, the mayor needs to understand that it was his name calling which in part sparked today’s incident.
“City Hall should be a forum for debate and discussion about the issues, not insults and mudslinging.”
Writing on Twitter, Mr Johnson said: “Vital Londoners see democratic process in action but behaviour of some cabbies at MQTs today undermines that . Also shocked that 3 City Hall security staff hurt following suspension of Mayor’s Question Time – no excuse for violence.”
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: “Police officers were present during the Mayoral Question time event at City Hall this morning.
“At about 10am, further officers attended to assist security with a number of protesters .
Two allegations of assault have been received by police.
“Police continue to monitor the group as they move through central City London .
There have been no arrests at this time.”
TfL said the suggestion that the public gallery was filled with its graduates to keep drivers out was “totally untrue”.
A spokesman said: “This is totally untrue .
TfL graduates always attend Mayor’s Question Time during their first week at TfL.”
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