Police defend the Bank of England from protesters' assaults. -5h 30-Violent revendication occured this morning in the city's neat street surrounding the financial temple artery.
The remains of the day darts in between the buildings from which a cold and sombre shadow falls over a deluge of office workers. This morning had started the G20 summit. The information as to access the heart of the area, I direct myself on overnarrow alley to cut through. Policemen poped all around dressed for battle.
I finally reach the city's financial heart : Bank.
The crowd pours down every narrow alley ways, fleeing the area with anxiety."Better stay out of town for awhile!" says one before rushing for the safety of the underground.
Litter covers the streets and adds to the scene a tragic outlook
The crowd is massed on the siege of the protest and the tension raises as the sun quickly runs away leaving the feeling that the night will be the scene of intense altercation. Protesters flood the streets and joins the agitated swell crushing against police lines. Clenched fists emerge from the tumult, peace has vanished. Chants are now a cacophony of shouts and groans.
Police charge and heightens the assailiants' anger. Every forward step into the police blockade engender battle and injured bodies are dragged with difficulty out of the mess. Beer bottles and rubbish bags flown from every points. At that time, the Police started to circle the protest, front and back, leaving no choice but to run for safety. I decided then to head for the climate camping, held on Bishopsgate.
The ambience there was more settle. Musicians entertained the movement and a less turbulent crowd was standing in the front of the campement. Police was once again overpresent, professionaly not answering questions asked. At that time, I met one of the volunteer, tittled as "legal Observer". The main aim of this group of 30 people , spread in and out of the Camp, was to prevent the police to delocalise the sitting. Their position, claimed as a peaceful intervention, did involve the supply of food and water to the 200 tents.
Divided in a few numbers, responsible for different media coverage, medics or hygiene, they intended to protect the camp against Police agression. "It turned out to be in danger when the Police started to restrain the water supply" reveals a witness. Despite the Camp's intention as to keep a low key violence, the lack of goods started to ensure the Police a break in and finally got through around one in the morning. The Police walked on the place, confiscating tents and searching people, leaving exhausted protesters with no shelter for the night.
Comments gathered from: Anonymous Legal observer.
Picture : Delvecchio Victor.
