Million Mask March: Protesters arrested as violence breaks out in central London

 
Stand-off: police with riot shields and batons as protesters reach Buckingham Palace (Picture: @Biggpix)
Alexandra Rucki|Ben Morgan10 November 2014

Scuffles broke out and at least 10 protesters were arrested as members of activist group Anonymous descended on central London this evening.

Swathes of roads were barricaded off as thousands of the demonstrators donning Guy Fawkes mask made their way from Trafalgar Square to Parliament Square for the Million Masked March.

As the group neared Buckingham Palace they were met by a large police presence, and tried to drag railings away from officers at the Victoria Memorial.

Some participants reportedly threw fireworks at police officers and smoke flares could be seen being let off.

A spokesman for The Met said there were at least 10 arrests for incidents such as assaulting and obstructing police officers by 10.20pm.

A 22 year old woman protester said: "We are here to show the government that the problems facing is not going to go away. We have thousands of people here exercising their democratic rights and the police are not listening. We don't want to cause trouble but thats the only way people will listen."

Minor skirmishes between police and protesters broke out in Parliament Square, with bottles, traffic cones and metal barriers launched at riot police.

Painter and decorator Paul D'orfio, 32, said: "What we are seeing is the people showing the government we won't take it anymore. Three years ago, police marched with us to parliament saying enough was enough. Now they have been stopping us protesting. We've had enough."

The group moved on from Buckingham Palace, setting off more fireworks, before walking through Green Park towards Piccadilly and Oxford Street.

They arrived at the BBC headquarters where fireworks were lobbed at police in riot gear, as crowds chanted "revolution."

Police expected a higher turn-out than last year’s event which saw more than 2,000 people marching, but it is estimated just over a 1,000 are taking part tonight.

The protest is said to be against mass surveillance, austerity and infringement of human rights.

Images of fashion designer Vivienne Westwood marching while wearing a mask were shared on social media sites, while comic Russell Brand was filmed addressing the crowd.

Steve Foster, a 36-year-old storeman from Liverpool, came to the capital to attend the event and make his voice heard.

He said: "The inquiry into institutional paedophilia is probably the main reason (why I am here).

"I am actually a victim myself, though not institutionally, when I was a kid.

"I want to see a real inquiry and I want to see prosecutions and people jailed in the establishment, where we all know it is rife. That is my biggest reason."

Asked about the nature of the protest, he said: "I think everyone wants it to go peacefully really, just a peaceful demonstration.

"More and more people have been turning up every year so hopefully it will keep growing and growing until there will be change. There is one solution, revolution."

Scotland Yard have attempted to engage with the Anonymous organisers to work with them before the event but without success.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">Thousands of people at <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MillionMaskMarch?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-148686-https://twitter.com/hashtag/MillionMaskMarch?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#MillionMaskMarch</a> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/London?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-148686-https://twitter.com/hashtag/London?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#London</a> now marching towards Buckingham Palace <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MMM?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-148686-https://twitter.com/hashtag/MMM?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#MMM</a> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=9&amp;id=222025&amp;p=http://t.co/nlGYBDOwSr" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-148686-http://t.co/nlGYBDOwSr" data-vars-event-id="c23">pic.twitter.com/nlGYBDOwSr</a>— Sara Firth (@Sara__Firth) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/Sara__Firth/status/530085587471327232" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-148686-https://twitter.com/Sara__Firth/status/530085587471327232" data-vars-event-id="c23">November 5, 2014</a>

Police have obtained a Section 60 AA power which allows officers to order protesters to remove masks.

A spokeswoman said: “We have tried to make contact with groups who we believed may consider attending, but so far without success.

"We want to engage with these groups so that we can work together to ensure they can protest safely whilst making sure that serious disruption to the life of the community is avoided.”

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