Watch: Press photographer dragged out of Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham

Drama on the last day of the Tory meeting in Birmingham as a photographer is filmed being dragged out of the conference at the International Convention Centre (ICC)
By Dean Murray
Published 5th Oct 2022, 17:13 BST
Updated 5th Oct 2022, 17:28 BST

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A press photographer has been physically manhandled out of the Conservative Party Conference today (Wednesday, October 5).

The snapper, believed to be Tolga Akmen, a staff photojournalist at European Pressphoto Agency (EPA), can be seen being escorted physically to an exit of the Birmingham venue.

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A bystander commented: “A photographer has just been dragged off the conference centre floor by security.”

The photographer is heard to plead: “Just leave me be. I’m a member of the media. Can you please stop this please? What are you doing? I promise you, I didn’t do anything.”

A man in a suit is heard to comment to security staff: “I’d go with him now, otherwise the police will get involved but go now, we’ll try and sort it out.”

The incident follows protests by Geenpeace as Prime Minister Liz Truss began her speech. The protestors held a yellow flag with the slogan: “Who voted for this?”. They were removed from the hall at the ICC immediately.

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Tolga Akmen and the Conservative Party have been contacted for comment.

Press photographer dragged out of Conservative Party Conference at the ICCPress photographer dragged out of Conservative Party Conference at the ICC
Press photographer dragged out of Conservative Party Conference at the ICC

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