Who is Owen Jones? Labour activist beaten up in London attack
LABOUR activist Owen Jones claims to have been targeted by a group of thugs who kicked him in the head and punched his pals.
The 35-year-old socialist is an Oxford graduate and author who writes columns for The Guardian.
Who is Owen Jones?
Born in Sheffield in 1984, Owen spent most of his youth in Stockport, Greater Manchester.
The academically-bright student attended the prestigious Oxford University where he attained a BA and a Masters in 2007 on the rise of neo-conservatives in the US.
After university, Owen worked as a trade union lobbyist and a parliamentary researcher for future-Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell - then a backbench Labour MP.
In 2011, he rose to prominence in the UK when he published his first book 'Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class.'
He writes a column for The Guardian and has worked in the past for The Independent, The New Statesman and The Sunday Mirror.
Owen is a vocal supporter of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
When did the alleged attack happen?
The columnist was celebrating his birthday with friends when he said the men made a "direct beeline" for him in the early hours of Saturday morning August 17, 2019.
The 35-year-old said he was left with a “bloodied back” and a bump on his head after the shocking assault outside the Lexington pub on Pentonville Road, Islington.
He tweeted on Saturday afternoon: "This is a bit dramatic, so firstly I’m fine, but last night - when I was celebrating my birthday I was attacked, along with my friends, in a blatant premeditated assault.
"Six of us left the pub at 3am and were saying our goodbyes 30 metres away, then a group of 3-4 men left the pub, made a beeline for me, kicked me in the back, threw me on the ground, slamming my head, and kicked me in the skull. My friends were punched trying to defend me.
"The group then scarpered: I don’t know if they said anything in the melee. I’m fine other than a big bump on my head and a cut back.
"Given the far right attacks I’ve had in the streets, and generally escalating far right threats I’ve had, I’m in no doubt as to what this is."
What have the police said?
The Metropolitan Police has said it was now working to establish the "full circumstances" of the incident.
A spokesman for the force confirmed it had spoken to witnesses and would now review CCTV footage from the scene.
He added: "He was attacked by up to four males who also assaulted his friends when they attempted to intervene.
"None of those injured required hospital treatment or London Ambulance Service."
The Lexington's general manager, Chris Smith, said he had looked back at the venue's CCTV and thought it was "possible" the suspects were caught on film, reports the BBC.
He said his staff were "all upset" that Mr Jones had been targeted and would "do everything" to aid the police investigation.
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