The clip, which was widely shared on social media, showed the engineer in a high-vis jacket at the top of a ladder working on the pole before being confronted by the thug, who shouts: ‘Get down’
A council worker dragged from a ladder after being wrongly accused of removing a Union Flag by a yob was actually installing camera equipment, it has emerged. The engineer was seen in a viral video being attacked by an angry bald man in Salford last Friday.
The clip, which was widely shared on social media, showed the engineer in a high-vis jacket at the top of a ladder working on the pole before being confronted by the thug, who shouts: “Get f***ing down.”
He then tries to push the ladder from under his feet while the workman desperately clings to the pole and only stops when a passer-by intervenes and tells him to “calm down.”
The workman then slides down the pole and confronts the attacker who angrily points up at the flag still drooping above their heads.
But despite false claims online that he was removing a Union Flag — seemingly erected as part of online campaign ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ — the worker was subcontracted by Salford City Council to work on camera equipment on the post, the MEN reports.
In a statement, the council said: “The person shown in the video is a sub-contractor to the council and contrary to social media posts, was working on camera equipment. We have previously stated we are not removing flags and absolutely do not condone any violent behaviour or verbal abuse.
“Threatening or intimidating behaviour towards residents and workers in Salford is unacceptable and we appeal to people in Salford to treat each other with respect. Anyone with information can contact GMP on 101.”
Transport consultancy Citisense, contracted by the council, said the attack occurred when one of its engineers was performing routine work to install temporary data collection equipment.
Citisense installs and removes tech including temporary cameras used for highway and transport projects. It also clarified that it was not tasked with removing the flag.
In a statement posted to social media, the company said: “We have no involvement in, nor have we ever been instructed by any authority, to remove flags of any kind. The health, safety, and wellbeing of our colleagues is of the utmost importance. We are fully cooperating with the police regarding this incident and providing our full support to our colleague and friend.”
Salford’s deputy mayor Jack Youd, who is a councillor in Walkden North, said: “The assault on a man trying to go about his job yesterday is inexcusable.
“He wasn’t there to remove flags, but sadly people are using the video to put out misinformation and to encourage attacking council workers and ordinary men in hi viz trying to do their jobs in Salford.”
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