Protesters clash with police as 100,000 strong London Gaza demo descends into violence
Who would have imagined that a herd of Muslims and leftists would turn to violence to express themselves?
Violent clashes occurred between police and around 20,000 protesters outside the Israeli Embassy in London - with an estimated 100,000 protesters airing their views around the city.
Windows were smashed and policemen were injured - with one officer knocked unconscious in the running battles and two requiring treatment for facial injuries.
The protesters - mainly young men - knocked down barriers threw missiles including eggs, red paint, sticks and shoes as 300 officers in full riot gear tried to maintain the peace.
Police try and hold back the protesters outside the Israeli embassy, Kensington, as thousands show their anger at the worsening situation in Gaza
There were reports that some protesters had tried to set fire to police vans.
The violence, which broke out in front of the Israeli Embassy, appeared to be led by a hard-core of masked and hooded youths.
A national demonstration against Israel's attack marched from Speakers' Corner at Hyde Park today to the Israeli embassy in High Street Kensington.
It was estimated there were around 100,000 protesters in total across London, including the Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park and Kensington protests.
Attacked: Protestors go for horse-backed officers in Kensington
A protester pushes down barriers as police try to maintain calm amid missile-throwing and window-smashing
Demonstrators let off fireworks outside the Israeli Embassy in London as they call for the fighting in the Gaza region to stop
Blood can be seen on the outside of Starbucks, with windows were smashed, and the inside was extensively damaged
There was a heavy police presence lining the route taken by the protesters.
Chanting 'free, free Palestine', the crowd was led through the streets of London by a vocal group of largely young men.
A Starbucks coffee shop in the area was stripped of chairs and had its front windows smashed, and protestors also removed fittings from the shop.
Residents living in flats above watched the scenes from their windows, and many people pleaded with police to let them out of the cordon.
At one point, the protesters were seen to throw shoes at mounted police posted in the Notting Hill area.
The march ground to a halt outside the Israeli embassy as tens of thousands of people surged past carrying placards.
At a number of points, officers asked some of the noisier and more enthusiastic protesters to 'calm down'.
There was pushing and shoving between protesters and police in riot gear outside the embassy building.
Demonstrators chanted noisily and tossed shoes over the heads of the police ranks towards the embassy.
Demonstrators inside the Starbucks branch near the Israeli embassy in London
Demonstrators and the media scramble around each other soon after fireworks were let off in a packed High Street Kensington
Burning bush: A placard bearing a portrait of U.S. President George Bush is set alight. There were reports of rioters trying to set police vans alight
A series of heavily policed demonstrations with up to 2,000 pro-Palestinian supporters have already been held outside the Israeli embassy in London.
Commander Bob Broadhurst said: 'A group of people on this demonstration have set out to deliberately confront and antagonise police officers trying to protect the Embassy of Israel.
'We are very disappointed by the irresponsible and criminal actions of those who have challenged police by ripping apart security barriers and throwing objects at them.'
Protestors burn placards in High Street Kensington
Flags are burnt as the protesters make their feelings known during the riots
He added: 'A hard core of demonstrators are undermining the cause of the vast majority of people on this demonstration, who are law abiding citizens wishing to protest peacefully.'
BULLSHIT!
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