POLICE are investigating reports of men in balaclavas setting off flares and throwing objects onto the motorway in an alleged right-wing protest over the M48.
Avon and Somerset Police attended following multiple reports of a group of men wearing dark clothing and face coverings on the footbridge over the M48 near the Aust service station on Saturday afternoon.
The men were alleged to have been setting off flares, waving flags and banners, and throwing objects onto the motorway.
Councillor Armand Watts, who represents Bulwark and Thornwell on Monmouthshire County Council, said he was informed of the protest by some of his constituents.
He told the Argus: “Monmouthshire and Wales are a proud county and country.
“I only said last week in the Argus that we have close ties with England, but we absolutely are not racist.
“This country has a history of dealing quite sternly with racism and we are not a country of hard right fascists.
“This promotes bigotry over multiculturalism.”
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Cllr Watts encouraged anybody who knows those who were connected to the 'protest' to come forward and share that information with the police.
"It’s not who we are, this kind of behaviour is something from a different era," he said.
"We are not a country that tolerates fascism.
"It is completely opposed to western democracy and our values."
An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: “At 2.14pm on Saturday, September 12 we received multiple reports of a group of men wearing dark clothing and face coverings on the footbridge over the M48 near the Aust service station.
“It was reported that the men were setting off flares, waving flags and banners, and had thrown objects onto the motorway.
“Officers were at the bridge 20 minutes after the first call was received, however the group was not located.
“Enquiries, including reviewing CCTV footage, are being carried out to determine whether any offences were committed.
“We would ask anyone with any information or dashcam footage to call 101 using the reference number 5226263015.”
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