G20 protests turn violent

G20 protesters have smashed windows at the Royal Bank of Scotland offices in the City of London. Smoke bombs were hurled into the building in Threadneedle Street as the huge demonstrations in the Square Mile took a violent turn. Trouble flared as a group of demonstrators tried to force their way through lines of officers who hit back with batons. Around 1,200 demonstrators were penned in front of the Bank of England as riot vans blocked off surrounding streets and stopped hundreds of other protesters from entering the square. At the junction of Threadneedle Street and Bartholomew Lane, masked and hooded men tried to breach police lines to get through to the climate camp in nearby Bishopsgate. They were beaten back by police, who were pelted with empty beer cans, fruit and flour. At least one officer was seen with blood spurting from a cut on his forehead. In Threadneedle Street, a line of police holding back protesters was overwhelmed by the demonstrators, who surged forward, briefly pinning officers against the wall. Police retaliated with a surge of their own as officers again repelled the crowd with batons. Demonstrators continued to chant while officers held their batons aloft in front of three police vans blocking the road. Protesters then smashed windows in the RBS building off Threadneedle Street. The building, which appeared to be empty, was hit by a hail of missiles including plastic bottles and toilet rolls. Elsewhere, protests were largely peaceful as several thousand people descended on the country's financial heart to challenge world leaders. In a co-ordinated manoeuvre, groups of protesters headed to Bishopsgate from a neighbouring street and set up camp. Carrying tents, picnic blankets and wooden stalls, the campaigners closed off Bishopsgate. The climate camp aims to stay at the City of London site for 24 hours and, later this evening, plans to have bicycle-powered cinema, workshops and a ceilidh. One climate camper, Richard Howlett, said they had gathered to protest against carbon trading and G20 efforts to prop up the global economy. He said the idea for the demonstration grew out of previous events that climate camp protesters had held outside Heathrow Airport and Kingsnorth power station in Kent. Scotland Yard's massive security operation got under way as campaigners from all over the country descended on the capital. Thousands of police officers are ready to deal with the series of demonstrations if violence erupts. Officers had been keeping a low profile alongside demonstrators but as the marchers entered the Square Mile a police helicopter hovered overhead and police photographers took up positions on tall buildings. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has warned protesters that violence and intimidation will not be tolerated.

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ITN | April 1, 2009

Tags:. .bartholomew. .pelted. .spurting. .manoeuvre. .repelled