Protests - London and Moscow UPDATES

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• Protests - London and Moscow UPDATES

09 November 2016 | Updated 01 January 1970

The Million Mask March has previously seen considerable damage to properties in an around London's Trafalgar Square. This time around, on Saturday November 5, there was a considerable police presence and conditions mposed under the Public Order Act.

Met Police officers kept control and only made 53 arrests for offences including obstruction, possession of an offensive weapon, public order and drugs. Whilst the majority of those taking part were peaceful, there were pockets of disorder and a number of fireworks thrown which did not result in injury. Officers managed to keep disruption in the capital to a minimum and dispersed the group swiftly and without the need for containment.

Conditions imposed on the demonstration dictated that the march take place between 6:00pm and 9:00pm.

Commander BJ Harrington of the Met’s Public Order Command said: “We facilitate hundreds of peaceful protests every year in London usually with the co-operation of the organisers. On this occasion although the organisers did not engage with police, the majority of protesters did adhere to the conditions imposed. Only a small minority chose to breach the conditions and engage in criminality.

"Over recent years this event has caused significant disruption to Londoners with increasing amounts of anti-social behaviour, violence, damage to public property and businesses. Monuments have been criminally damaged, with attempts to take over buildings in addition to harassment of the public, motorists and attacks on police officers."

Out on a limb

Limbs from shop mannequins were piled-up outside the Russian embassy in London last week in protest at Russian bombing in Syria. At the weekend, Russian protesters in Moscow retaliated by bombarding the British Embassy with arms and legs.

In London, the Embassy street entrance was blocked and two people chained themselves to railings. Protesters also blocked the embassy phone network with constant calls. A Twitter campaign says the limbs represent the injuries suffered by the people of Aleppo.

Picture: The Syria Campaign and Syria Solidarity UK have blockaded the Russian embassy in London prompting a retaliatory blockade in Moscow

Article written by Brian Shillibeer | Published 09 November 2016

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