Trade union organisers of a protest against austerity cuts in London on Sunday condemned rioters who went on the rampage after the rally, attacking police and smashing up shops in a night of violence.
At least 201 people were arrested and 84 people were hurt when a small group of "criminal" demonstrators broke away from Saturday's main rally, which was the biggest in the capital since protests against the Iraq war in 2003.
A group of several hundred masked rioters attacked the iconic Ritz Hotel, occupied a luxury food store, smashed up shops and banks and started a bonfire in historic Trafalgar Square before police finally contained them.
The original march drew more almost half a million health workers, firefighers, teachers and their families, including children, to oppose the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition's austerity measures.
It was hailed as a success by organisers the Trades Union Congress (TUC), which represents many British unions and more than six million workers, but there was disappointment at the violence which broke out later.
TUC head Brendan Barber said he "bitterly regretted" the violence and hoped it would not detract from the success of the march. "Of course we condemn the small numbers who came looking for violence but we will not allow their actions away from our event to detract from our campaign," he said.
Comments
Comments are closed.