Dozens held in raids after G20 demo

12 April 2012

Police seized dozens of protesters in raids on two squats as the hunt for violent G20 anarchists continued.

The number of arrests linked to the summit topped 100 as officers rounded up demonstrators accused of smashing their way into the Royal Bank of Scotland. More than 80 people were detained in two disused buildings within walking distance of the Bank of England.

Hundreds more marchers returned to the Bank on Wednesday and were involved in a tense stand-off with police, but there was no repeat of the sporadic violence that marred largely peaceful protests on Wednesday by campaigners calling for action from world leaders.

And the only groups who gathered in any numbers near the summit venue in east London were Ethiopians protesting about divisions in their home country.

Scotland Yard made 22 further arrests, including nine for violent disorder, four for possessing an offensive weapon and four for breach of the peace. The Met said anyone detained at the two squats who was not "of interest" would be released.

Dozens of police and an armoured police van blocked Earl Street, near Liverpool Street station, where a disused office block was raided. Witnesses said a large convoy of police vans arrived quietly in a back street before riot police smashed their way inside the three-storey red-brick building.

At least 70 people were led out and made to sit in the street outside as they were questioned and searched by officers.

In Rampart Street, Aldgate, where four arrests were made, occupants of the three-storey building complained about police tactics. One said: "It was major league over the top. They think we are some sort of terrorist masterminds and we are being linked with violence.

Later, a 21-year-old man was charged with arson recklessly endangering life over the damage at the RBS branch in central London on Wednesday, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said. Mindaugas Lenartavicius is due to appear at the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Two 18-year-old men, Daniel Champion and Ben Shiells, will also appear at the same court charged with burglary, criminal damage and theft of a computer. A 17-year-old girl was also charged with burglary with intent to commit damage over the incident and will appear at West London Youth Court.

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