UKIP candidate Carl Benjamin in Truro milkshake melee Published duration 10 May 2019 Related Topics The UK’s European elections 2019

media caption Truro clash amid UKIP campaign speeches

Two protesters have thrown milkshake at UKIP European election candidate Carl Benjamin at a rally.

Mr Benjamin was holding a gathering on Lemon Quay in Truro, Cornwall, with British activist Milo Yiannopoulos.

It is understood a man and a woman tried to target Mr Benjamin with the milkshake but missed.

Supporters of Mr Benjamin pulled the man to the ground after he threw the milkshake. Police said they received reports of an altercation.

The man was later seen walking away.

image caption Milkshake could be seen on the ground after the incident

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson said: "A milkshake was reportedly thrown over a member of the public by a man wearing black clothing and a white mask.

"Police carried out inquiries but the 'victim' did not make themselves known to officers.

"No official complaint has been received."

A female protester was also prevented from throwing kippers at Mr Benjamin.

At the scene

By Johnny O'Shea, BBC News

image caption Carl Benjamin is standing as a UKIP candidate in the European Elections

One of the protestors across the square was performing with a jazz trumpet to drown out Mr Benjamin when a man with a scarf partially covering his face and a hooded woman pushed their way through the crowd holding bottles of milkshake.

The pair missed their target, with the milkshake instead going on to other people and over the floor.

They were pulled away by a number of Mr Benjamin's supporters and a scuffle started with punches and kicks being thrown.

Mr Benjamin began his speech by saying: "Thank you to the protestors who have assaulted me already."

Other protesters at the rally included a busker who set up close by, playing loudly to try to drown the two speakers out.

Mr Benjamin is running to become an MEP for South-West England, one of 47 candidates in the constitiuency

The Truro incident comes after Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, had milkshakes thrown at him in Warrington, Cheshire, and Bury in Greater Manchester while campaigning as a European Parliament candidate for North-West England.

Who are Carl Benjamin and Milo Yiannopoulos?

image caption Milo Yiannopoulos is beginning a tour of south-west England with Carl Benjamin

YouTuber Carl Benjamin, known online as Sargon of Akkad, was unveiled as a UKIP election candidate last month.

He sparked outrage when tweeted in 2016 that he "wouldn't even rape" Labour MP Jess Phillips.

He has refused to apologise for the remark, arguing that "any subject can be the subject of a joke."

Milo Yiannopoulos is a British writer and editor, based in the US.

He has been widely criticised for comments he has made about transgender people, Muslims, Black Lives Matter activism, feminists and gay people, even though he is openly gay.