Witness: 'G20 police hit man just before he died'

A PHOTOGRAPHER says she saw a police officer "assault" a man minutes before he collapsed and died in the middle of the G20 protests.

Anna Branthwaite was near the Bank of England at the G20 Meltdown march last Wednesday when she claims to have witnessed a policeman commit a "violent" attack on Ian Tomlinson.

Today she questioned whether the 47-year-old bystander's death, which was caused by a heart attack, was brought on by the alleged assault.

Activists have called for a full public inquiry into Mr Tomlinson's death and the police tactics used during the protests last week.

Mr Tomlinson was not a protester and was returning home from his work at a nearby newsagents when the incident occurred.

Ms Branthwaite alleges: "I saw the officer come up behind him and just grab him. This riot officer grabbed hold of him and charged with real force and threw him to the ground. He stood over him and hit him with a baton twice.

"That was the point that I felt that this was a violent assault."

Mr Tomlinson, who was married but lived in a bail hostel, was walking along a pedestrian street next to the Royal Exchange buildings between Threadneedle Street and Cornhill when he stumbled on protesters confronting riot police. He collapsed at about 7.30pm.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is looking into the death.