Lone protestor disrupts act of remembrance in Darlington

A man and his dog interrupted prayers being said in tribute to Darlington’s war dead when he pushed through crowds to reach the Cenotaph at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Shortly after a two-minute silence had been observed, the man rushed to the Cenotaph and began to shout “Peace not war” as prayers were being read.

Gathered crowds were left visibly shocked as he accused them of glorifying the dead before throwing an item – believed to be a medal case – onto the Cenotaph.

The man – in his late thirties – was ushered away from the scene by police officers attending the Act of Remembrance, which had followed a service at the town’s Holy Trinity Church.

Later, a Darlington Police officer confirmed that they had detained the man for his own good and were attempting to get him support.