Six Chinese diplomats leave UK after alleged assault

Six Chinese diplomats based in Manchester, including Consul-General Zheng Xiyuan, are returning to China in the wake of an incident in which a protester was dragged into the consulate grounds and attacked, according to three people familiar with the matter.

The police told the government last week that they wanted to interview these six Chinese diplomats and as a matter of protocol, the British government requested that Beijing waive diplomatic immunity to allow officers to proceed, the people said.

The British side gave the Chinese a deadline of today to respond and allow the police investigation to continue, but instead the six are now on their way back to China.

The diplomats’ departure is expected to be announced by U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Wednesday. The episode follows footage from October showing unidentified men emerging from the consulate compound, tearing down a satirical portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping erected by Hong Kong protesters outside, and then attacking a protester who had been dragged into the consulate grounds.

Video shows the men landing a series of violent blows on the protester, who later identified himself to the BBC as “Bob.” He told reporters he was “dragged inside and attacked” before being rescued by police. Greater Manchester Police confirmed his account.

A call to the Manchester consulate was not anwered on Wednesday. There’s no reply to an email inquiry made to the Chinese embassy to the U.K.