Victim at G20 troubles "was not a protestor"

A man of 47 who died during G20 riots in the City was not a protester but became penned in by police, it emerged.

Ian Tomlinson was thought to be on his way home after work when he bec­ame 'kettled at the Bank of England' with hundreds of others, said protest organiser Marina Pepper.

He reportedly suffered a heart attack and collapsed near Cornhill at 7.30pm during Wednesday's unrest.

Police said they were pelted with bottles by protesters as they tried to reach him and give him first aid.

But other witnesses have said demonstrators alerted officers to the emerg­ency and allowed them to carry him back to their lines.

Mr Tomlinson helped out at a newsagent near Monument Tube station and was a quiet, harmless man who liked to sit and chat, said friends.

'He was a gentleman and he never hurt anyone. He was a really nice fella who just minded his own business,' said a vendor.

Another friend, a building manager who worked on nearby Fish Street Hill, added: 'He was king of the hill – king of Fish Street Hill. That is my tribute to him.

'He was a real gent, we will all miss him,' he added.

'He came from a large loving family and will be sadly missed by us all,' his family said in a statement.

His death has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which will decide if it should investigate.