NIGEL Farage had "cement" hurled at him in a shocking attack on the election campaign trail today.
The Reform UK leader, 60, was pelted by a yob in Barnsley town centre on Tuesday while on an open top battle bus for his party.
Farage, who was snapped dodging the flying objects, said wet cement from a nearby work site and a coffee cup with its contents in were launched.
Cops detained and arrested a man as he chanted: "Scum, scum, scum."
Farage said police had warned him against doing a walkabout in Barnsley this morning and that’s why he was on the bus.
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When asked by The Sun how he was feeling, he said: "Yeah, it was pretty nasty at Barnsley this morning.
"Thank God for the local police, who said to me, look, you know, we were on a big open top double-decker bus.
"I was going to get off and walk through the main square in Barnsley.
"The police did tip us off very early, that will not be a good idea. Yeah, a sort of mob came along.
"By the way, protest is allowed. Protest is part of that democratic process that I was talking to you about earlier.
"But protest needs to be within certain bounds and certain reason.
"Protest does not involve chucking cement towards me, or even stones, at the bus. It's violent protest, it's deliberate.
"You might agree with me or disagree with me, that's fine. I don't mind if someone shouted abuse in the street at me, I'll probably shout it back, that's fine.
"But when it comes to violence, that actually poses a real threat to the whole democratic process.
"That was pretty nasty this morning. Had I got off that bus, I'd probably be in hospital. That's how nasty this is."
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Footage from the top of the bus shows Farage rush down the steps out of sight after the attack.
Members of Reform UK cheered and clapped as the suspect was cuffed.
Farage said: "I had a similar incident that took place last week, on Tuesday. There is an attempt to shut me down.
"There is an attempt by a violent left-wing mob, who by the way, didn't come from Barnsley.
"They have names like Jocasta and Sebastian, and Mummy and Daddy are very rich, and they live in Cheshire and Surrey.
"And they're the sort of people who go on Just Stop Oil protests, and all the rest of it.
"And look, you know, I am so used to it. I've lived with this longer than anybody.
"But it's funny, you see, when it was happening to me, no-one gave a damn.
"When it happens to politicians in the Labour or Conservative Party, everybody says, this is incredible."
Farage added: "Well, I'm just supposed to take it. Well, you know what?
"I am not going to let a bunch of students, whose brains have been poisoned at university, with their left-wing ethos, close down democratic debate in this country.
"If they think they can frighten me, they're wrong."
Speaking from the inside of the bus, Farage said: "I'll tell you what I'm worried about.
"A week after we commemorate D-Day, which was done so we that we could live in a democracy where we can agree to disagree and be very passionate, we've now got a mob that want to close down all the debates."
When asked if those throwing things at politicians should go to prison, he said: “Should that guy this morning chucking concrete and others chucking rocks?
"Should they be given just some tiny fine and let off? The answer must be no.”
Farage said that other party leaders are scared of meeting the public in the same way he does.
He said: "The reason it's aimed at me, I'm the only political leader that actually goes and meets people.
"I'm the only one that is prepared to walk through the crowd and, you know, take a bit of abuse."
South Yorkshire Police said: "We have arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of public order offences following disorder in Barnsley town centre today.
"It is believed that the man threw objects from a nearby construction area.
"A suspect was quickly detained and remains in police custody."
The ex-UKIP leader has since thanked the force as he vowed not to be "bullied".
He said: "My huge thanks to South Yorkshire Police today.
"I will not be bullied or cowed by a violent left-wing mob who hate our country."
Former Reform UK leader Richard Tice added: "Left wing thugs do not [want] democracy to prevail.
"Many thanks to the police. Second attack in 7 days."
It was understood police warned Farage not to get on the bus before the parade.
It comes just one week after he was splattered in the face with a milkshake.
Victoria Thomas-Bowen, 25, was arrested after allegedly chucking the banana drink at Farage in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, on June 4.
The OnlyFans model was later charged with assault by beating and criminal damage.
Thomas-Bowen is due to appear at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on July 2.
It is the second time the Brexit champion has been swilled - having been covered head-to-toe in Newcastle in 2019.
