Reaction on Casemates

Murmurs of shock and disbelief rang out around Casemates yesterday as Peter Canessa announced the decision to cancel the EU referendum rally and the reason behind it.

The stage was set, Casemates, too, was decked out in Union Jacks and Gibraltar flags and even an hour before the rally was due to start members of the public, some donning red and white, had gathered in the blistering heat in preparation for the historic event.

At that stage, Mrs Cox was in a critical condition in hospital but few on the ground knew what had happened and, although people were obviously disappointed at the news that the rally would not go ahead, many people backed the decision to cancel it in the circumstances.

Applause rang out in support of the move as the cancellation was announced for a second time and as the news had yet to filter through and more and more people gathered in anticipation of what would have been a landmark event on the Rock.

Preparations for the event had been carried out from the early morning; from workers setting up the stage, lighting and sound equipment to police who had scoped the area and set up surveillance equipment to effectively police the day.

Officers moved quickly after the final announcement was made to remove the metal barriers and ropes used to cordon the stage off. Stage hands worked into the evening to dismantle the unused infrastructure, while TV cameramen packed up their equipment and unplugged their microphones.