Police Truck Rams Protesters Outside US Embassy In Philippines
Hundreds of people had gathered outside the embassy to protest US military presence in the country.
Str / AFP / Getty Images
A protest in front of the United States Embassy in the Philippines capital of Manila turned ugly when a police van drove into demonstrators.
Hundreds of protesters, some of who were part of a group known as Bayan (Nation), were demonstrating against the US military presence in the country on Wednesday when the incident happened.
Horrified demonstrators can be seen on video scattering as the police van swings around and reverses back and forth into the crowds. At one point, a young woman is seen being knocked down and seemingly pulled underneath the still-moving vehicle.
Warning: Some viewers may find this video upsetting.
At least three student protesters were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, the Associated Press reported. The extent of the injuries of those in hospital remains unclear, with the US Embassy in Manila telling the BBC only that it had "seen reports" of injuries, and directing further inquiries to the police.
"There was absolutely no justification for it," protest leader Renato Reyes told the AP.