It was mob rule for sure and it did look like, as Planetedgeley says, a lynching.
The police apparently stood and watched, I presume because it was only criminal damage rather than actual murder and their intervention could have easily escalated tensions.
As I have said, the mayor has failed dismally to lead on this issue and should resign.
I know from somebody in Bristol that there are many in the St Pauls area who don’t respect him as “one of theirs”
If he is too weak and inept to get rid of a piece of metal then how strong can he be perceived to cope with more important matters requiring his guidance and decision making?