- Title: UK: Police remove protesters who stage demo opposite Bank of England
- Date: 3rd April 2009
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (APRIL 2, 2009) (REUTERS) WIDE OF PROTESTERS AND POLICE OUTSIDE BANK OF ENGLAND LINE OF POLICE PROTESTERS BY BANK OF ENGLAND PROTESTERS SITTING DOWN ON PAVEMENT VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS BLOCKING PAVEMENT OPPOSITE BANK (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAURA POCOCK, STUDENT SAYING: "I already came here yesterday, I wasn't planning to come back here today but after seeing the guy died and after the pure, like, aggression and violence that's been shown by the police, I just thought I would show how I felt about that and come down today." PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN SAYING 'EVERYTHING IS OK' (SOUNDBITE) (English) CAITLIN PICKAVANCE, STUDENT, SAYING: "The whole reason everyone's here is because we were at the ExCel Centre but a lot of people moved here because of the guy that died yesterday." POLICE MOVING BACK CROWD VARIOUS OF POLICE MOVING PROTESTERS BACK, PROTESTERS ARGUING WITH POLICE WIDE OF POLICE LINE AFTER PUSHING PROTESTERS BACK SECOND LINE OF POLICE WALKING TOWARDS DISPERSED PROTESTERS
- Embargoed: 18th April 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA5EAMOE2IND1HK27Y0WPBWHX1U
- Story Text: Police contain sporadic demonstrations opposite the Bank of England.
Police moved on protesters who staged a small sit-down opposite the Bank of England in London on Thursday (April 2).
The demonstrators had gathered to lay flowers at the spot near the Bank where a G20 protester collapsed and died on Wednesday (April 1).
Police quickly penned in a group of demonstrators close to the entrance in an effort to fend off any repeats of Wednesday's clashes.
Around 20 fellow demonstrators sat down and blocked the pavement nearby in solidarity. Student Laura Pocock, one of those sitting down, said: "I already came here yesterday, I wasn't planning to come back here today but after seeing the guy died and after the pure, like, aggression and violence that's been shown by the police, I just thought I would show how I felt about that and come down here today."
Her fellow student, Caitlin Pickavance, added: "The whole reason everyone's here is because we were at the ExCel Centre but a lot of people moved here because of the guy that died yesterday."
Within ten minutes, lines of police forced the protesters off the pavement before shepherding them away from the nearby streets. A group of a few dozen activists remained penned into an area opposite the Bank.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it would investigate the circumstances of the protester's death.
The man collapsed and was found lying on the ground near the location of a stand-off between police and protesters but he did not appear to have been hurt. A police source said it was likely the man had died from a medical condition but that a post mortem was needed.
Further unrest had been predicted around the global financial summit on Thursday but by early afternoon, just 400 or so protesters had gathered to demonstrate against poverty, war and a financial system they say has failed ordinary people.
Security for the gathering of world leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama, was intense. Many roads near the conference centre were closed and police launches patrolled nearby waterways.
Streets around the conference centre in east London were quiet, with many residents choosing to stay at home for the day.
In the nearby Canary Wharf financial district, workers arrived at their offices in jeans and shirts, avoiding bags or clothing with any company logos . The police had advised City workers to "dress down" to avoid being targeted by protesters. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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