A ‘homophobic protestor’ has been detained on the ground at Swindon Pride.
The incident happened at the LGBTQIA+ event at GWR Park in Faringdon Road at around 12.30pm this afternoon (Saturday).
A man was reportedly shouting: “You are sick, you are all an abomination; you need to turn to God.”
The crowd was chanting: “Get him out, get him out” – as police rushed to prevent a disorder from breaking out.
Officers tried to encourage the man to stop with his offensive words and leave Pride, but soon after he was taken to the ground and detained.
He was then marched away from the event in handcuffs – arrested for breaching a Section 35 dispersal order – as people clapped and cheered.
A second man, in relation to a separate incident, was also arrested – and has since been charged.
In a statement, Wiltshire Police said: “We have arrested two people following separate incidents at Swindon Pride yesterday.
“Paul McDonald, 57, of Emlyn Square, Swindon, was arrested and charged with being drunk and disorderly and assaulting an emergency worker.
“He has been bailed and is due to appear at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on August 27.
“A second man, aged in his 30s, was arrested after failing to comply with a section 35 dispersal order.
“He has been released under investigation.”
