Shocking moment mourners at gypsy funeral are chased by cops as they huddle around COFFIN on back of truck on motorway

SHOCK footage shows the dramatic moment a traveller funeral procession was pursued by police on a busy bypass - with mourners clinging to the coffin on the back of a truck.

A 13-year-old lad was later pepper sprayed and a cop allegedly assaulted after a dramatic standoff on Edinburgh's[1] A720 on Wednesday.

A police car chased after the flatbed truck on the Edinburgh Bypass

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A police car chased after the flatbed truck on the Edinburgh Bypass The procession was halted and mourners gathered on the busy roadway

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The procession was halted and mourners gathered on the busy roadway The truck carrying the coffin and mourners was filmed driving over the Queensferry Crossing

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The truck carrying the coffin and mourners was filmed driving over the Queensferry Crossing

The bizarre footage shows nine mourners huddling around the casket as the lorry sped along  - including over the Queensferry Crossing.

A police[2] car with blue lights and sirens blaring started to follow the truck, as the people on the back cheered and shouted as the patrol car followed after them.

The coffin can be seen draped in a Lion Rampant flag.

The procession was halted near the Dreghorn Interchange as dozens of mourners brought the busy roadway to a complete standstill.

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A scuffle was said to have broken out between the group and cops[3], where one officer was allegedly assaulted and a teenage lad was then pepper sprayed.

One of the funeral[4] party could be heard saying: “f***ing terrible!”

An older man was placed in the back of a police car and an officer pled with the group to get off the road and return to their cars as more cops raced to the scene.

Footage taken of the aftermath showed 14 police cars and vans on the road as traffic[5] moved by.

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A 13-year-old lad was charged over the alleged police assault[6] and a 61-year-old man was charged with traffic offences.

A Police Scotland[7] spokesperson said: “Around 12.20pm on Wednesday, 20 December, police stopped a vehicle on the A720 due to safety concerns.

“An officer was then assaulted, and a 13-year-old male was charged in connection and a report will be sent to the relevant authorities.“A 61-year-old man was also charged in connection with road traffic offences and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.”

Cops confirmed the use of pepper spray is being probed by the police watchdog.

A spokesperson for the Police Investigation & Review Commissioner said: “We can confirm that Police Scotland referred the incident to the PIRC, which is currently being assessed.”

Cops confirmed the use of pepper spray is being probed by the police watchdog

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Cops confirmed the use of pepper spray is being probed by the police watchdog

References

  1. ^ Edinburgh's (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
  2. ^ police (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
  3. ^ cops (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
  4. ^ funeral (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
  5. ^ traffic (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
  6. ^ police assault (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
  7. ^ Police Scotland (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)

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