POLICE AND DEMONSTRATORS CLASH IN LONDON!

Police and demonstrators clash at anti-G8 protests

Protesters clashed with police in Golden Square. Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Nearly 1,200 officers, including hundreds of riot police, were on duty today as anti-G8 demonstrations took place across the capital.

Police on top of the Soho building occupied by demonstrators. Picture: Dwaine Field-Pellew/Absolute Radio/PA Wire

Protesters occupied a building in Soho and there was a stand-off between demonstrators and police in Piccadilly as officers blocked access to Fortnum & Mason, the subject of protests against government cuts in 2011.

By late afternoon, 32 people had been arrested for offences including possession of articles with intent to commit criminal damage, assault on police, criminal damage, possession of an offensive weapon and failing to remove a face covering.

Metropolitan Police teams were out in force in a bid to keep today’s action under control and dramatically forced their way into the occupied building, a former police site, on Beak Street at lunchtime.

Television footage showed officers in climbing gear trying to secure the roof, bundling a protester who sprang on to the rooftop on to his front.

Activists said police were restricting the right to peaceful protest. Picture: Lewis Whyld/PA Wire

Around two dozen protesters gathered outside the BP headquarters in St James’s Square amid a heavy police presence. 

Anti-G8 protesters gathered in Piccadilly Circus later in the day. Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

The group StopG8 branded the action, held ahead of the two-day G8 summit in Northern Ireland next week, a “Carnival against Capitalism”.