A teenage immigration activist known online as “Young Bob” says he was assaulted and robbed of camera equipment while running a public debate stand in Manchester on Monday afternoon, in an incident he described as an “eye-opener” that has prompted him to seek self-defence training ahead of future appearances.
According to his own account, posted alongside video footage that has since been viewed millions of times, the activist, reportedly named Thomas Moffitt and head of an organisation called Project Albion, was running a stand on immigration-related topics on or near Market Street, close to a bubble tea shop, when a group of men approached and attacked him. He says he was dragged to the ground, punched and kicked, briefly losing consciousness and suffering bruising to his face and the top of his head, along with cuts to his neck and back. He was assessed by paramedics at the scene and said he intended to go to hospital afterwards.
Moffitt says equipment including tripods and cameras was stolen or damaged during the attack, with the battery of one camera reportedly exploding after being damaged. He says he attempted to retrieve his belongings and faced a second attempted confrontation before police arrived around five minutes after the initial assault, recovering some of the items. According to Moffitt, no arrests had been made by the evening. He said he still has the memory card from the damaged camera, which he believes may contain footage useful for identifying those involved.
In his post, Moffitt also alleged that nearby counter-protesters from Stand Up to Racism had encouraged those responsible and filmed the incident, claiming police did not intervene with the group or immediately seek to obtain their footage. These claims have not been independently verified, and Greater Manchester Police had not issued a public statement on the incident at the time of writing.
Moffitt, who describes himself as a Christian pro-life activist and is known for street activism and citizen journalism around immigration issues and protests at migrant hotels, has a polarising public profile. Supporters have framed him as a voice for free speech and stricter immigration controls, while critics, including organisations such as Hope Not Hate, have previously described his activism as far-right or deliberately provocative. Reaction to the video has been similarly divided, with some expressing outrage and calling for arrests, while others have argued that his style of activism is itself designed to provoke confrontation.
Following the incident, Moffitt said he plans to undergo self-defence training and intends to return to the city with security in place for a future “mass deportation” stand. The incident comes amid a wider period of heightened tension in the UK around immigration debates, street activism and counter-protests, with similar confrontations involving activists on different sides of the issue having occurred in other cities in recent months.
