Britons raising Union flags on busy road 'attacked' by locals who 'punched and kicked them'

Britons raising Union flags on busy road 'attacked' by locals who 'punched and kicked them'
Raise the Colours Co-founder Ryan Bridge believes the French Government are ‘running scared’ |

GB News

Oliver Partridge

By Oliver Partridge


Published: 27/03/2026

- 12:22

Updated: 27/03/2026

- 12:22

The Oxford East MP described the activity as 'the opposite of activity to bring our community together'

Members of the Raise the Colours group were allegedly attacked and declared unwelcome in Oxford after they installed St George and Union Jack flags on a busy street.

The incident unfolded at approximately 5pm on March 24 during peak rush hour on Abingdon Road, Grandpont, with the group using a cherry-picker van marked Highway Maintenance to attach flags on both sides of the busy carriageway.


An open letter from the Grandpont Welcomes campaign has been circulating, declaring that residents are "horrified by this action, not because of the flags, but because of the intention behind them and the underlying hate they are trying to sow".

Ryan Bridge, one of the co-founders of the group, broadcasted the entire operation live on social media.

He told GB News: "We just wanted to support Oxfordshire, as they had flags taken down by the council at a cost of £51 per lamppost. We assisted them erecting flags to install patriotism and unity across the board.

"We were attacked verbally and physically four times in Oxford by four members of the public, verbally attacked all night and called scumbags, racists, nazis, and fascists.

"I was punched, kicked and hit by a bike - I've paidd tax into the country for years, and I believe those who attacked us are traitors to their country.

"The amount of abuse from residents of Oxford was an absolute disgrace, and I commend the police, who handled the situation and protected us by keeping the mob away from us".

St George's and Union Flags fly by a roadside

Britons raising Union flags on busy road furiously confronted by 'horrified' locals (stock pic)

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PA

During the flag-raising operation, men wearing high-visibility jackets manoeuvred the cherry-picker vehicle across both sides of the road, obstructing traffic as they worked.

Local politicians have strongly condemned the disorder caused by the group, whose members largely are said to have come from outside the city.

Labour councillor Anna Railton, who represents Hinksey Park ward, said: "This group of people are not welcome back to Oxford".

A woman employed at the University of Oxford, who wished to remain anonymous, described being verbally abused after questioning why the group was illegally erecting flags on a public road.

She told local outlet This is Oxfordshire: "He became abusive and threatening, shouting and filming with his phone in my face, in particular he said he could not understand me, because I have an accent, and ridiculed me because I am Italian".

She reported that the confrontations continued for hours, with group members "shouting hate and insulting anyone in their way" while blocking traffic.

Mr Bridge rebutted the claims against him, claiming the Raise the Colours group was assisted by people from France, Italy, and eastern Europe, with thousands more messages in support of "our efforts to help patriots and families all around the country feel heard".

He said: "People feel they haven't got anyone else to turn to and are fueled with anger and frustration over the illegal migrant crisis".

Abingdon Road, Oxford

The Raise the Colours activity took place on Abingdon Road, Oxford

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GOOGLE MAPS

Lucy, a South Oxford resident, said: "This Raise the Colours group harassed, intimated and insulted me and others", and that women and people of colour in the neighbourhood expressed fear about the group's presence.

Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds condemned the group's conduct, noting that while individuals have every right to display the England flag at their own homes, this situation was fundamentally different.

She said: "It appears that people who do not live in the neighbourhood were involved, who imposed themselves on the residents of Abingdon Road and disrupted traffic in the rush hour in the process".

Ms Dodds added that reports of abusive behaviour "must obviously be investigated", and described the activity as "the opposite of activity to bring our community together".

Councillor Railton criticised the group for "verbally abusing residents, impersonating highways officials, and attaching flags to property they did not own".

She described the police response as "very 'not our problem', which was disappointing".

Oxfordshire County Council acknowledged the incident, and warned that flags near roads create safety hazards - confirming it would collaborate with Thames Valley Police to share evidence for potential action.

The Raise the Colours group also visited Kingstanding in Birmingham earlier this week, and nearby Walsall last Friday for the vigil for the death of Rhiannon Skye Whyte - murdered by Sudanese asylum seeker Deng Chol Majek.

The group are today attending the sentencing of Ahmad Mulakhil, an Afghan asylum seeker guilty of abducting and raping a 12-year-old girl, to erect a large flag in support of women and children.

GB News has approached Thames Valley Police for comment.