Thursday, May 27, 2021

UK
Sasha Johnson: Five arrested in connection with shooting of British BLM activist

By Schams Elwazer and Sharon Braithwaite, CNN 

London police have arrested five men on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the shooting of prominent Black Lives Matter activist Sasha Johnson.

Activist Sasha Johnson uses a megaphone at the head of a gathering in Westbourne Park to taking part in the inaugural Million People March march from Notting Hill to Hyde Park in London on August 30, 2020, to put pressure on the UK Government into changing the "UK's institutional and systemic racism". - The march is organised by The Million People Movement, and takes place on the bank holiday weekend usually associated with the Notting Hill Carnival, this year cancelled due to the coronavirus covid-19 pandemic. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Johnson, a 27-year-old mother of three, has been in critical condition in hospital since she was shot in the head at a house party in south London on Sunday.

A 17-year-old was arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and possession with the intent to supply class A drugs, according to a Wednesday statement from Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Inspector Richard Leonard.

Three men -- aged 18, 19 and 28 -- were arrested on suspicion of affray (a group fight) and possession with intent to supply class B drugs, while a fifth man, who is 25, was arrested on suspicion of affray and failing to stop for police, the statement said.

"While the investigation remains in its early stages, these arrests show that progress is being made. However, I would continue to appeal to those who may hold information about the events that led to Sasha receiving her horrific injuries, or about those responsible, to do the right thing and come forward and speak to police," Leonard said. He added that all five men remain in custody.`

Johnson and her political party -- the Taking the Initiative Party (TTIP) -- rose to prominence last year after she helped organize a series of protests against institutional racism in the UK in the wake of George Floyd's murder.

Sasha Johnson - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sasha_Johnson
  • Sasha Johnson is a British Black Lives Matter activist and member of Taking The Initiative Party. A graduate of Ruskin College, she has been involved in Rhodes Must Fall, Black Lives Matter and Kill the Bill protests. On 23 May 2021, Johnson was shot in the head. Two days later, five people were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

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