Owen Jones: Three men charged over attack on left-wing journalist outside London pub

Suspects aged 29, 34 and 39 charged with ABH and affray

Three men have been charged over an assault on left-wing journalist Owen Jones outside a London pub.

James Healy, 39, of Laburnum Grove, Portsmouth, Liam Tracey, 34, of Boswell Street, Camden and Charlie Ambrose, 29, of Borough Street, Brighton have been charged with ABH and affray over the attack at The Lexington pub in Islington on 17 August.

They will appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 6 November.

The Guardian columnist, 35, had been out celebrating his birthday with friends when he was set upon by a group of men around 2am.

Met Police detectives previously said they were investigating whether the attack was a hate crime.

Guardian editor Katherine Viner previously condemned the attack.

She said on Saturday evening: “At The Guardian we deplore the outrageous attack on Owen Jones.

“Violent assaults on journalists or activists have no place in a democratic society.”

Owen Jones makes a speech at the UK Student Climate Network’s Global Climate Strike on Millbank in Westminster, London (Gareth Fuller/PA)

The attack led to an outpouring of support following several incidents of violence and intimidation against journalists.

Jeremy Corbyn said it appeared to have been “politically motivated”.

“An attack on a journalist is an attack on free speech and our fundamental values,” the Labour leader tweeted at the time.