Rave violence probe continues as suspects released

Police have released 11 people who were arrested at an illegal rave, while an investigation continues into alleged assaults, violent disorder and other offences.

Dorset Police previously said the event, on Ministry of Defence land near East Lulworth, drew about 2,000 people before being shut down on Sunday evening.

Officers with batons and riot shields forcibly confronted attendees, leaving a man with his face covered in blood, according to videos and images posted online.

However, police said no-one was seriously injured and officers had taken "appropriate and proportionate action" in the face of a "violent and hostile reception".

In an update, police said a man in his 30s from Bedfordshire was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and possessing a Class A drug. He has been released on police bail.

Three further men – a man in his 20s from Bridgwater, a man in his 20s from Pembrokeshire and a man in his 30s from Poole – were arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and have also been released on police bail.

A further seven arrests were made on suspicion of driving offences. The suspects have all been released under investigation.

At least one police officer could be seen in the footage striking repeated baton blows in a crowd.

Rave attendee Jonathan Beale, who posted images of an injured man, said: "I got home the next day and felt like crying. It was a disgusting show of force.

"I can vividly remember his screams."

Zak Hanman, who filmed the disorder, previously told the BBC: "Towards the end, yes, people were throwing stuff at them [the police], but that was not until they were hitting people, attacking people."

In one case in particular, he said he had seen officers "hit this guy with a baton, even when he was on the floor".

Other videos showed an object being thrown at a line of police officers and a woman with a bloodied head.

In a previous statement, Dorset Police said: "This event caused significant disruption to local communities and we took appropriate and proportionate action to bring it to safe conclusion.

"While responding to the incident involving a large number of people, our officers came under attack from missiles and faced a violent and hostile reception.

"Violence in our communities and against our officers will not be tolerated."

David Sidwick, the Conservative police and crime commissioner for Dorset, previously said: "The police would have tried to close it down peacefully. They came under intense assault with bottles.

"I am certain that when it is reviewed we will see that there was a proportionate response."