Violence at the anti-cuts protests in London continues to hog the headlines, causing anger that the message of the thousands of peaceful demonstrators has been overshadowed.
For the most part, the weekend’s anti-cuts protests were peaceful.
201 people have been arrested in connection with the disorder and more may follow. Of those arrested, 145 were charged with aggravated trespass over the occupation of Fortnum and Mason.
Protestors break into Fortnum and Masons in Piccadily during the anti-cuts march. 145 people were charged with aggravated trespass following the occupation of the luxury shop.
Police have been criticised for not clamping down swiftly enough on the violent elements in the protests after properties in central London were vandalised.
Retailers have slammed the disorder, claiming £5 million in revenue was lost on Saturday.
201 people have been arresetd so far in connection with the disorder at the protest.
However, police commander Bob Broadhurst told the Financial Times:
“Anarchists participated in violence alongside more than 250,000 peaceful demonstrators, many were not masked and don’t seem to care about being identified. We’ll catch up with quite a lot of them”.
Topshop was one of the businesses targeted in London’s West End.
Mayor Boris Johnson has causes controversy by claiming in his Evening Standard column that “Balls and Miliband will feel quietly satisfied by the disorder – a token, they will tell themselves, of the public feeling that is out there to exploit.”
Police clash with protesters in central London during Saturday’s demonstration.
Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman has demanded an apology, saying:
“This is typical of Boris Johnson – thoughtless, shallow and plain wrong.
“He should withdraw this disgraceful allegation immediately.
“Instead of attacking the Labour leader Boris Johnson should be listening to the hundreds of thousands of people who marched peacefully.”
Two elderly ladies look amused as a group break away from the main protest to vandalise buildings on the way up vandalising properties as they march up Piccadilly.
Police survey a pile of burning rubbish at the end of the day of anti-cuts protests.
Protesters were still gathered in central London at the end of the day.
