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Simon Holliday/Facebook
UK News

Street preacher dragged away by police officer

Mike Overd, a street preacher from Somerset, has been arrested after being dragged off the street by a police officer.

The evangelist, who was with three others, was speaking outside the Broadmead shopping centre on Wednesday while a number observers shouted and heckled at him.

Google maps
Street where arrests were made

A video published by the Bristol Post shows a number of police officers standing by, before one approaches Mr Overd and asks him to stop claiming he was "causing a disturbance".

With onlookers calling on him to "go home" he continued quoting John 3:16.

He was then told he would be arrested if he did not leave the area. He subsequently refused.

He was then dragged away amid cheers for the crowd which had built up.

Whilst it is unclear exactly what was said to draw the attention of the police, the Bristol Post reports that witnesses heard the preachers stating "all Muslims will burn in hell" and that "Allah does not exist".

Somerset and Avon Police has confirmed that four men were arrested for alleged public order offences.

They have been put on police bail until 16thJuly while investigations take place.

In a poll by the Bristol Post, 48% of readers said that all street preachers should be banned in the city.

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