ANTI-HS2 protesters at Poors Piece Camp in Buckinghamshire have reported they were violently assaulted during a legal eviction by the rail developer this afternoon that left several people with multiple injuries. 

Members of the HS2 Rebellion group said they are particularly worried about the health of an activist who suffered severe neck injuries when a bailiff stamped repeatedly on his head, leaving him unable to move. 

They said they were concerned that the young activist may have suffered potentially long-term spinal-cord injuries, but they were unable to get him to a medic straight away or bring him down from the tree he was camped on.

One activist said the protesters inside a treehouse had made a deal with the police due to their concerns for the injured activist. Some of his colleagues agreed to climb down from the camp in exchange for medical help. 

An HS2 Ltd spokesman said: “The illegal and irresponsible actions of the activists who have assaulted our staff when attempting to safely remove them puts individuals at risk and places unnecessary strain on the emergency services during the pandemic. 

“The construction of HS2 is playing a vital role in Britain’s economic recovery from Covid-19, with over 15,000 people already working on the project and tens of thousands of additional jobs supported through our supply chain. 

“We urge everyone who cares about our natural environment to support a project that is providing work across the UK today and in the future will get people out of cars, off planes and onto low-carbon rail travel.”

At least nine protesters were arrested, the police said.