York Minster assault leads to arrest

UNITED KINGDOM
The Guardian

Sam Jones
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 7 July 2013

A man has been arrested after attacking two Church of England staff during a General synod service at York Minster attended by the archbishops of York and Canterbury.

The man, who is understood to be well know to local police, began shouting and swearing as the archbishops’ procession entered the cathedral shortly after 10am on Sunday.

After coming within yards of the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, he was approached by a steward, whom he punched. Dave Smith, a member of the archbishop of York’s staff, then stepped in and was also punched by the man and left with a bloody nose.

Smith sat on the man until the police arrived.

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