London night riot: 201 arrested, leaves Trafalgar Square abl

[Sid2011 Profile]

A HUGE clean-up operation was underway today after hate-filled anarchists left Trafalgar Square ablaze and attacked the world-famous Ritz hotel during an anti-cuts mass demo day in London.

Determined to cause havoc, hundreds of thugs broke away from the TUC rally to gather at Nelson's Column in a violent face-off with riot police.

Lion statues at the landmark were defaced and the new 2012 Olympics clock was daubed with paint, while hundreds of anti-capitalist demonstrators occupied the posh Fortnum & Mason department store.

At least 31 police were hurt as running battles went on during last night - with 11 officers requiring hospital treatment - while 201 people were arrested for public order offences.


Violent ... protesters hurled a sign at the window of the Ritz hotel yesterday

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said officers had "come under sustained attack" as they tried to deal with black-clad thugs smashing shop windows and damaging banks.

Trade union rally organisers condemned the rioters, after the vast majority of their 250,000 marchers protested against Government cutbacks without any trouble.

Violence began after a renegade group split from the main protesters to target Topshop on Oxford Street - away from the agreed route - where they threw paint bombs and flares at the store.


Footage from the scuffles showed one man being arrested and led away by cops as scenes got ugly in the shopping mecca.

Paint, bottles and food were also thrown at a Royal Bank of Scotland branch.

Police stressed the troublemakers were completely separate from the main rally, which was carried out without incident.


Clean-up ... the aftermath this morning in Trafalgar Square

Hooded protesters, who covered their faces with scarves and carried black and red flags, also lobbed lightbulbs filled with ammonia at officers.

They yelled "Whose streets, our streets" and held placards which read "No cuts!".

A line of around 50 police officers were initially forced to step aside when they were overwhelmed by the number of protesters.


Flare up ... Trafalgar Square anarchists lit up in riot last night

Later a branch of HSBC was hit at Cambridge Circus, with protesters smashing their way inside.

A police van was also battered by paint bombs, with one rioter spraying the "A" anarchy symbol on the back.

Even London's world famous Ritz hotel fell victim, as rioters flung a road sign through a window.


Paint bomb ... officer hit in the face in protester attack on Oxford Street yesterday

Met Police chiefs had been preparing for the worst as 4,500 officers flooded the capital to guard against troublemakers hijacking the event.

The TUC demonstration saw 800 coaches and 10 trains chartered from around the country to bring teachers, nurses and other public sector workers onto the streets.

Students and critics of the Coalition's efforts to bring the nation's finances under control joined the event - just days before the many cuts come into effect in the new tax year.


Trouble flares ... officers remove a protester on Oxford Street

It was billed as the biggest backlash against the Government's policies since it came to power.

But police believed troublemakers planned to occupy Oxford Street and other key sites though unofficial "feeder" marches.

Labour leader Ed Miliband addressed the rally in Hyde Park - a move Education Secretary Michael Gove said was dangerous.

He told BBC Radio 4: "People will say 'You are calling for a plan B from the Government, you don't even have a plan A.


Peaceful ... the vast majority of the march went without any trouble

"More than that, you are associating yourself with a march which could, I'm afraid, move from being family event into being something darker."

The main group of the marchers demonstrated peacefully and walked along the pre-planned route from Embankment to Hyde Park.

Steel bands, choirs and dancers performed while the mass of people, many with their children in tow, blew horns and whistles as they passed alongside Parliament.

Source: http://www.whatsondalian.com/news-462-2 ... ondon.html

[Mediasorcerer Profile]

so the police thugs,umm,i mean "anarchists" went wild ay?