A Hong Kong pro-democracy protester was taken to the grounds of the Chinese consulate in Manchester and beaten on Sunday.
Unknown persons left the consulate and forcibly entered one person, who escaped with the help of the police and other demonstrators.
“They dragged me in and beat me,” the protester told the BBC.
A spokesman for the consulate said that the protesters displayed an offensive portrait of the Chinese president.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it is urgently seeking clarification on the incident. Greater Manchester Police have launched an investigation.
Speaking after the incident, a protester named Bob told BBC Chinese that “mainlanders” – people from mainland China as opposed to Hong Kong – came out of the consulate and destroyed their posters.
“When we tried to stop them, they dragged me in, beat me,” he said, adding that he was later removed by British police.
“That’s ridiculous. They [the attackers] he shouldn’t have done that. We should be free to say what we want here [in the UK].”
After the incident, the people were angry. Protesters shouted at the consulate and British police, saying they could have done more.
Consular staff had earlier asked the protesters to move to the opposite side of the street.
Two police officers were present at the protest, but a few minutes after the altercation began, several more police officers appeared.
They gathered at the door of the residence and tried to break up the fight and push the protesters back.
A police officer entered the consulate and pulled out the man who had been dragged inside.
At least eight men – some wearing helmets and protective vests – then returned to the consulate.
The consulate is on UK territory but cannot be entered without consent. Any crime committed on diplomatic premises is subject to UK law, but staff may enjoy diplomatic immunity.
Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith reacted on Twitter, saying the UK government should demand a full apology from the Chinese ambassador and send those involved back to China.
Demonstrators expressed their objections The Congress of the Communist Party has started in Beijing.
President Xi Jinping, is preparing to secure a third term in powerHe said it had “turned the situation from chaos to governance” in Hong Kong, pointing to China’s crackdown on pro-democracy protests there.
A spokesman for the consulate said the protesters “hanged an offensive portrait of the Chinese president at the main entrance.”
“This would be intolerable and unacceptable for the diplomatic and consular missions of any country. Therefore, we condemn this deplorable act with sharp indignation and strong protest,” the spokesman added.
A spokesman said Greater Manchester Police were aware of the incident.
“Officers were present and responded immediately to defuse the situation,” they said.
“Investigations are currently ongoing to understand the full circumstances.”
