Hours after England’s new lockdown measures were announced last Saturday, 700 people crammed into a warehouse outside Bristol for an illegal Halloween rave. Police were called to the event in Yate, Gloucestershire, at 10.30pm, but according to a spokesman, crowds refused to disperse, and several officers sustained minor injuries when party-goers, denied entry to the warehouse, started throwing lit spray cans and bottles. The alleged organiser, a man in his 30s, was among eight people arrested. In Wigan, seven police vehicles had their tyres slashed while officers were trying to shut down an illegal music event attended by around 300 people; in Glasgow, 64 people were issued with Fixed Penalty Notices for attending an illegal Halloween party. Officers said no physical distancing was taking place.

Last weekend, protests against the measures turned violent in Madrid, Barcelona and other cities. Italy has also seen violent protests over the past week in cities including Turin, Bologna, Florence, Rome and Naples. Although it has not been as hard hit by the second wave as Spain, cases are now rising rapidly. In response, the government has introduced a nationwide overnight curfew, and a new three-tier system of restrictions and partial lockdowns. (The Week 7 Dec 2020)

My comment: It is one thing to hold an illegal secret meeting while covid restrictions, for good reason, are in force. It is quite another to indulge in violence. “Spoiled young people” is my immediate (maybe intolerant) reaction. Grow up and think of others whose health you are recklessly endangering.