This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2015/nov/05/million-mask-march-gathers-in-london-live-updates
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Million Mask March protest underway in London - live updates | Million Mask March protest underway in London - live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 8.28pm GMT20:28 | |
| Maybe Buckingham Palace won’t fall tonight after all: | |
| #millionmaskedmarch gives up on storming the palace pic.twitter.com/Uh1DpZ86n0 | |
| 8.26pm GMT20:26 | |
| More from the Palace: | |
| Cops defend the palace in large numbers #millionmaskedmarch pic.twitter.com/DpDwug829l | |
| 8.26pm GMT20:26 | |
| The Guardian’s Damien Gayle is at Buckingham Palace, where many protesters have now gathered. | |
| Cops out in force at the palace #millionmaskedmarch horses are here. They don't like fireworks much pic.twitter.com/Ug36u5ilBJ | |
| 8.21pm GMT20:21 | |
| Violence erupts near Buckingham Palace | |
| PA reports that what began as a largely peaceful protest again showed glimpses of violence, as crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace, a long way away from the agreed route. Some lobbed cones and fireworks at police horses as officers battled to contain the crowds. | |
| 8.19pm GMT20:19 | |
| Also quite a bit of chatter on Twitter tonight about what the protesters want to achieve. Many commentators are rather unclear about their objectives. Sky News presenter Niall Paterson is typical of many views: | |
| That most people are unable to answer "why are they out tonight?" surely limits the ability of #MillionMaskMarch to effect actual change. | |
| 8.16pm GMT20:16 | |
| The gates await: | |
| Nearly at the Palace now. I'm geotagging tweets #MillionMaskMarch pic.twitter.com/V018HuuxNP | |
| 8.16pm GMT20:16 | |
| Car collides with protester in London: | |
| A car just drove into a protester on #MMM2015. Sped off before mob justice could be unleashed | |
| 8.14pm GMT20:14 | |
| St James’s Palace breached? | |
| Protesters enter the grounds of St James' Palace, London. #MillionMaskMarch #BonfireNight pic.twitter.com/ODxWqkfZaB | |
| 8.09pm GMT20:09 | |
| Another image from Parliament Square tonight: | |
| Updated at 8.11pm GMT | |
| 8.05pm GMT20:05 | |
| And with all those smartphones too... | |
| Crowd heading to the palace has got lost #MillionMaskMarch | |
| 8.02pm GMT20:02 | |
| Protesters head up the Mall: | |
| Crowd heading to the palace with a few cops alongside #millionmaskedmarch. More waiting probably pic.twitter.com/IEIsUkWQ1B | |
| 7.59pm GMT19:59 | |
| Terry Small, 20, from Plymouth, emerged from the crowd of protesters in Great George Street with blood pouring from his head. He alleged he had been hit a number of times by an officer with a baton. “I was at the front, I was chatting with the officers asking them what their agenda was and why they were trying to stop us walking down the street when it’s supposed to be public land,” he told Press Association. “I got pushed in the back by people trying to move forward. I get pushed in the back and put my arm up because I know the baton is coming. I couldn’t move - it took all my force to shoulder-barge my way out of there.” | |
| 7.57pm GMT19:57 | |
| Vice News’ Sally Hayden with another view of the police car under attack: | |
| Police car on fire beside Queen Anne's Gate. @vicenews #MillionMaskMarch pic.twitter.com/hD4MfTUsUo | |
| 7.56pm GMT19:56 | |
| Bound for Buckingham Palace: | |
| Protesters are heading to the palace #CitizensNotSubjects #MillionMaskMarch | |
| 7.55pm GMT19:55 | |
| Protesters have targeted a police car: | |
| Police car smashed and set alight #MMM2015 pic.twitter.com/cxxw98U8a1 | |
| 7.54pm GMT19:54 | 7.54pm GMT19:54 |
| More from Damien: | More from Damien: |
| Anarchy #MillionMaskMarch pic.twitter.com/UAvchZjKoq | Anarchy #MillionMaskMarch pic.twitter.com/UAvchZjKoq |
| 7.54pm GMT19:54 | 7.54pm GMT19:54 |
| Some protesters have broken away and are heading for Victoria. | Some protesters have broken away and are heading for Victoria. |
| A crowd has split from the parliament square demo and are moving into Victoria #MMM2015 pic.twitter.com/0cD6vKLDk7 | A crowd has split from the parliament square demo and are moving into Victoria #MMM2015 pic.twitter.com/0cD6vKLDk7 |
| 7.53pm GMT19:53 | 7.53pm GMT19:53 |
| Heres’s a video from protest organisers Anonymous Online: | Heres’s a video from protest organisers Anonymous Online: |
| 7.46pm GMT19:46 | 7.46pm GMT19:46 |
| The organisers of the Hunger Games: Mockingjay premiere in Leicester Square tonight may have hoped they had picked another night. | The organisers of the Hunger Games: Mockingjay premiere in Leicester Square tonight may have hoped they had picked another night. |
| Chants of "Whose Premiere, Our Premiere" as #MillionMaskMarch stumble on Mockingjay premiere pic.twitter.com/sNW9G9KHre | Chants of "Whose Premiere, Our Premiere" as #MillionMaskMarch stumble on Mockingjay premiere pic.twitter.com/sNW9G9KHre |
| 7.42pm GMT19:42 | 7.42pm GMT19:42 |
| Another tweet from Damien: | Another tweet from Damien: |
| David Cameron is most wanted at #MillionMaskMarch pic.twitter.com/XXRrfmL7Q7 | David Cameron is most wanted at #MillionMaskMarch pic.twitter.com/XXRrfmL7Q7 |
| 7.41pm GMT19:41 | 7.41pm GMT19:41 |
| In case you were wondering, the Million Mask March has been held in London on 5 November - Bonfire Night - every year since 2012, organised by hacktivist group Anonymous to protest against the excesses of capitalism. Similar events are being held in hundreds of other cities worldwide including New York and Berlin. | |
| Updated at 8.11pm GMT | |
| 7.34pm GMT19:34 | 7.34pm GMT19:34 |
| The Guardian’s Damien Gayle is keeping us up to date with events in Westminster: | The Guardian’s Damien Gayle is keeping us up to date with events in Westminster: |
| Fireworks at last. It is #bonfirenight after all #MMM2015 pic.twitter.com/TFmSvVXTaC | Fireworks at last. It is #bonfirenight after all #MMM2015 pic.twitter.com/TFmSvVXTaC |
| 7.24pm GMT19:24 | 7.24pm GMT19:24 |
| Damien has been shooting some video of his own: | Damien has been shooting some video of his own: |
| A large number of riot police head to Westminster bridge as protester shout: it's a trap! #MillionMaskMarch pic.twitter.com/EZ13NTduxJ | A large number of riot police head to Westminster bridge as protester shout: it's a trap! #MillionMaskMarch pic.twitter.com/EZ13NTduxJ |
| 7.16pm GMT19:16 | 7.16pm GMT19:16 |
| Nice vantage point for journalist Luke Dray: | Nice vantage point for journalist Luke Dray: |
| All kicking off #MillionMaskMarch pic.twitter.com/uo5UZqqHjx | All kicking off #MillionMaskMarch pic.twitter.com/uo5UZqqHjx |
| 7.07pm GMT19:07 | 7.07pm GMT19:07 |
| PA reports:There was a sudden surge of activity around half an hour into the march, as several protesters at the front near Parliament Square broke off from the agreed route and ran towards the Churchill War Rooms near Great George Street, a short distance from Conservative Party headquarters, which were closed off. A line of police and mounted officers formed a barrier against the densely packed protesters, some of them screaming about inequality. Those who could get their arms above their waist held phones aloft. A couple of stray bottles were thrust over the barriers towards officers, which was met with cheers and chants of “Shame on you, we’re human too”. | PA reports:There was a sudden surge of activity around half an hour into the march, as several protesters at the front near Parliament Square broke off from the agreed route and ran towards the Churchill War Rooms near Great George Street, a short distance from Conservative Party headquarters, which were closed off. A line of police and mounted officers formed a barrier against the densely packed protesters, some of them screaming about inequality. Those who could get their arms above their waist held phones aloft. A couple of stray bottles were thrust over the barriers towards officers, which was met with cheers and chants of “Shame on you, we’re human too”. |
| 7.01pm GMT19:01 | 7.01pm GMT19:01 |
| A video of protesters outside Downing Street: | A video of protesters outside Downing Street: |
| Outside Downing Street for the #MillionMaskMarch #Nov5th pic.twitter.com/mOVkVdDuqq | Outside Downing Street for the #MillionMaskMarch #Nov5th pic.twitter.com/mOVkVdDuqq |
| 6.56pm GMT18:56 | 6.56pm GMT18:56 |
| This is England after all... | This is England after all... |
| A very British banner on #MillionMaskMarch pic.twitter.com/gYhtbW0K6j | A very British banner on #MillionMaskMarch pic.twitter.com/gYhtbW0K6j |
| 6.52pm GMT18:52 | 6.52pm GMT18:52 |
| A video from the scene: | A video from the scene: |
| Police have been pushed about 20 yards back #MillionMaskMarch pic.twitter.com/k5CwO3uEr4 | Police have been pushed about 20 yards back #MillionMaskMarch pic.twitter.com/k5CwO3uEr4 |
| 6.51pm GMT18:51 | 6.51pm GMT18:51 |
| Looks like protesters are going off piste... | Looks like protesters are going off piste... |
| Participants of #MillionMaskMarch #London have now gathered at Great George Street, corner of Parliament Square #Nov5th | Participants of #MillionMaskMarch #London have now gathered at Great George Street, corner of Parliament Square #Nov5th |
| 6.44pm GMT18:44 | 6.44pm GMT18:44 |
| Seems that police have a laser scroller and they’re gonna use it... | Seems that police have a laser scroller and they’re gonna use it... |
| A warning is being broadcast on the side of the national gallery with a laser #MillionMaskMarch pic.twitter.com/DcVWTqn2ip | A warning is being broadcast on the side of the national gallery with a laser #MillionMaskMarch pic.twitter.com/DcVWTqn2ip |
| 6.41pm GMT18:41 | 6.41pm GMT18:41 |
| One protester, who gave her name as Lola, told Press Association she had travelled from Hull: “There are people who aren’t represented, they should be here. I am the people,” she said. “I said I was coming down here and people said OK, but they deny it. They don’t want to face the truth. They are brainwashed and they fill their body with dead energy. “The media twist it. We are peaceful, we are doing this in a peaceful manner, but the media focus on the 1% who cause trouble.”Glad she’s cleared that up for us. | One protester, who gave her name as Lola, told Press Association she had travelled from Hull: “There are people who aren’t represented, they should be here. I am the people,” she said. “I said I was coming down here and people said OK, but they deny it. They don’t want to face the truth. They are brainwashed and they fill their body with dead energy. “The media twist it. We are peaceful, we are doing this in a peaceful manner, but the media focus on the 1% who cause trouble.”Glad she’s cleared that up for us. |
| 6.37pm GMT18:37 | 6.37pm GMT18:37 |
| Ben Pruchnie is covering the protest tonight for Getty Images: | Ben Pruchnie is covering the protest tonight for Getty Images: |
| 6.34pm GMT18:34 | 6.34pm GMT18:34 |
| The Metropolitan Police said that three men were arrested this afternoon after officers on patrol in Trafalgar Square saw them acting suspiciously. They found the men carrying items including knives, smoke and paint grenades, gas canisters and lock picks. The three men, aged 38, 55 and 50, were arrested on suspicion of being in possession of offensive weapons and are being held in custody at a central London police station. | The Metropolitan Police said that three men were arrested this afternoon after officers on patrol in Trafalgar Square saw them acting suspiciously. They found the men carrying items including knives, smoke and paint grenades, gas canisters and lock picks. The three men, aged 38, 55 and 50, were arrested on suspicion of being in possession of offensive weapons and are being held in custody at a central London police station. |
| 6.30pm GMT18:30 | 6.30pm GMT18:30 |
| Another tweet from Damien on the scene: | Another tweet from Damien on the scene: |
| Probably several hundred #MillionMaskMarch protesters in Trafalgar Square so far pic.twitter.com/uCeRkbPj8A | Probably several hundred #MillionMaskMarch protesters in Trafalgar Square so far pic.twitter.com/uCeRkbPj8A |
| 6.25pm GMT18:25 | 6.25pm GMT18:25 |
| Damien Gayle tweets from Trafalgar Square: | Damien Gayle tweets from Trafalgar Square: |
| Riot Police stationed on Charing Cross road for #MillionMaskMarch London pic.twitter.com/V6jtHS6ev8 | Riot Police stationed on Charing Cross road for #MillionMaskMarch London pic.twitter.com/V6jtHS6ev8 |
| 6.15pm GMT18:15 | 6.15pm GMT18:15 |
| Reuters photographer Peter Nicholls is one of the many journalists reporting from Trafalgar Square tonight. | Reuters photographer Peter Nicholls is one of the many journalists reporting from Trafalgar Square tonight. |
| 6.11pm GMT18:11 | 6.11pm GMT18:11 |
| There’s a live stream from a protester at Trafalgar Square here. | There’s a live stream from a protester at Trafalgar Square here. |
| 6.00pm GMT18:00 | 6.00pm GMT18:00 |
| Jason RockDodger Sangster has posted this video on Facebook of the crowds gathering in Trafalgar Square tonight. | Jason RockDodger Sangster has posted this video on Facebook of the crowds gathering in Trafalgar Square tonight. |
| 5.58pm GMT17:58 | 5.58pm GMT17:58 |
| Damien is off to Trafalgar Square to report on the rally, so Chris Johnston here taking over the live blog. | Damien is off to Trafalgar Square to report on the rally, so Chris Johnston here taking over the live blog. |
| Updated at 6.32pm GMT | Updated at 6.32pm GMT |
| 5.45pm GMT17:45 | 5.45pm GMT17:45 |
| I called out on the Million Mask March London Facebook page asking people for the reasons why they were attending. Setting aside the bunfight over mainstream media, the most articulate and complete response came from Keith Brady. He said: | I called out on the Million Mask March London Facebook page asking people for the reasons why they were attending. Setting aside the bunfight over mainstream media, the most articulate and complete response came from Keith Brady. He said: |
| I won’t be attending, but you want reasons? Jobs are down, educational standards are down, industry is down, public and national services are down, everything’s being sold off, taxes are being increased or diverted elsewhere and investments in infrastructure are being reduced to practically nothing by the greedy ba*ds the people who attend are there to protest too. Even the poverty stricken unemployed, who are stuggling to live on benefits they are often sanctioned on, still pay taxes on products we buy to survive with, so why is it being claimed they’re such a massive drain? Answer the question why NOT march? It’s much tougher to answer | I won’t be attending, but you want reasons? Jobs are down, educational standards are down, industry is down, public and national services are down, everything’s being sold off, taxes are being increased or diverted elsewhere and investments in infrastructure are being reduced to practically nothing by the greedy ba*ds the people who attend are there to protest too. Even the poverty stricken unemployed, who are stuggling to live on benefits they are often sanctioned on, still pay taxes on products we buy to survive with, so why is it being claimed they’re such a massive drain? Answer the question why NOT march? It’s much tougher to answer |
| Updated at 5.46pm GMT | Updated at 5.46pm GMT |
| 5.35pm GMT17:35 | 5.35pm GMT17:35 |
| Here’s a segment from the TV news featuring Ch Supt Peppa Mills explaining why the Met has imposed such stringent conditions on tonight’s Million Mask March demonstration. | Here’s a segment from the TV news featuring Ch Supt Peppa Mills explaining why the Met has imposed such stringent conditions on tonight’s Million Mask March demonstration. |
| Conditions imposed upon #MillionMaskMarch #London #Nov5th Updates from @MetPoliceEvents https://t.co/kdc1WBtApx https://t.co/2IBNijEU2c | Conditions imposed upon #MillionMaskMarch #London #Nov5th Updates from @MetPoliceEvents https://t.co/kdc1WBtApx https://t.co/2IBNijEU2c |
| She says: | She says: |
| It’s absolutely essential that the police are able to balance the needs of those who want to protest peacefully with those who live, work and visit London. Over the last three years, we’ve seen people going about their daily business seriously intimidated and disrupted by these protesters at this event. | It’s absolutely essential that the police are able to balance the needs of those who want to protest peacefully with those who live, work and visit London. Over the last three years, we’ve seen people going about their daily business seriously intimidated and disrupted by these protesters at this event. |
| 5.20pm GMT17:20 | 5.20pm GMT17:20 |
| The Million Mask March is not the only place that will see anti-authoritarian hi-jinks this evening. A giant effigy of a naked David Cameron with a pig’s head resting in his lap is to be set alight at the Lewes Bonfire night celebrations. | The Million Mask March is not the only place that will see anti-authoritarian hi-jinks this evening. A giant effigy of a naked David Cameron with a pig’s head resting in his lap is to be set alight at the Lewes Bonfire night celebrations. |
| David Cameron ready for Lewes bonfire pic.twitter.com/BXiDS9ZpO6 | David Cameron ready for Lewes bonfire pic.twitter.com/BXiDS9ZpO6 |
| My colleague Jamie Grierson wrote the story earlier: | My colleague Jamie Grierson wrote the story earlier: |
| Images of the surreal sculpture, depicting the prime minister perched on a golden chair clasping the animal head, have circulated on social media before Thursday’s event in the East Sussex town. | Images of the surreal sculpture, depicting the prime minister perched on a golden chair clasping the animal head, have circulated on social media before Thursday’s event in the East Sussex town. |
| The wooden structure alludes to claims made in an unauthorised biography of Cameron that he had put a “private part of his anatomy” into a dead pig’s head as part of a university dining club initiation ritual. | The wooden structure alludes to claims made in an unauthorised biography of Cameron that he had put a “private part of his anatomy” into a dead pig’s head as part of a university dining club initiation ritual. |
| Cameron later denied the allegations made in Call Me Dave, which was written by the former Conservative donor Lord Ashcroft and the former Sunday Times political editor Isabel Oakeshott. | Cameron later denied the allegations made in Call Me Dave, which was written by the former Conservative donor Lord Ashcroft and the former Sunday Times political editor Isabel Oakeshott. |
| Related: Effigy of David Cameron and pig's head to burn at Lewes Bonfire night display | Related: Effigy of David Cameron and pig's head to burn at Lewes Bonfire night display |
| 5.03pm GMT17:03 | 5.03pm GMT17:03 |
| The Metropolitan police has imposed strict conditions for tonight’s demonstration. This tweet shows what restrictions are in place. | The Metropolitan police has imposed strict conditions for tonight’s demonstration. This tweet shows what restrictions are in place. |
| Reminder of conditions for the #MillionMaskMarch in London For further details: https://t.co/BKcsfUxLs8 #5thnov pic.twitter.com/nxQA1hwuuj | Reminder of conditions for the #MillionMaskMarch in London For further details: https://t.co/BKcsfUxLs8 #5thnov pic.twitter.com/nxQA1hwuuj |
| 4.53pm GMT16:53 | 4.53pm GMT16:53 |
| There are unconfirmed reports of a heavy police presence at Trafalgar Square and claims that people arriving early are being arrested. | There are unconfirmed reports of a heavy police presence at Trafalgar Square and claims that people arriving early are being arrested. |
| Warning, anons are being arrested for turning up early. Need to arrange amongst yourselves to meet in pubs then ascend all together at 5 | Warning, anons are being arrested for turning up early. Need to arrange amongst yourselves to meet in pubs then ascend all together at 5 |
| One person on the Million Mask March London Facebook page has also posted a picture of a steel wall close to the scene, ready for deployment to contain protests. | One person on the Million Mask March London Facebook page has also posted a picture of a steel wall close to the scene, ready for deployment to contain protests. |
| People posting to the page have so far given me a range of reasons why they intend to protest, ranging from alleged VIP paedophile rings in Westminster, to poverty, the environment and Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. | People posting to the page have so far given me a range of reasons why they intend to protest, ranging from alleged VIP paedophile rings in Westminster, to poverty, the environment and Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. |
| 4.24pm GMT16:24 | 4.24pm GMT16:24 |
| Thousands of protesters are expected to gather in Trafalgar Square tonight, with Westminster the focus for the now annual Million Mask March, a worldwide event on Bonfire night that is organised through the Anonymous hackers’ collective. | Thousands of protesters are expected to gather in Trafalgar Square tonight, with Westminster the focus for the now annual Million Mask March, a worldwide event on Bonfire night that is organised through the Anonymous hackers’ collective. |
| So far about 18,000 people indicated on Facebook that they plan to attend the demonstration, where protesters don Guy Fawkes masks in an effort to recreate the closing scenes of the cult comic book-cum-movie V For Vendetta. | So far about 18,000 people indicated on Facebook that they plan to attend the demonstration, where protesters don Guy Fawkes masks in an effort to recreate the closing scenes of the cult comic book-cum-movie V For Vendetta. |
| Tonight’s demonstration is expected to focus on proposals to increase powers of the security services. It comes a day after the government published a new bill seen as a revived snooper’s charter. Under the plans, internet companies will be required to store details of every website visited by their customers for 12 months. | Tonight’s demonstration is expected to focus on proposals to increase powers of the security services. It comes a day after the government published a new bill seen as a revived snooper’s charter. Under the plans, internet companies will be required to store details of every website visited by their customers for 12 months. |
| Previous years have seen fireworks fired at the Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Westminster, as well as arrests and clashes with riot police. Tonight, Scotland Yard is to deploy thousands of extra police officers and impose tough public order restrictions over fears that the protest will again turn violent. | Previous years have seen fireworks fired at the Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Westminster, as well as arrests and clashes with riot police. Tonight, Scotland Yard is to deploy thousands of extra police officers and impose tough public order restrictions over fears that the protest will again turn violent. |
| Yesterday the Metropolitan police urged “anyone with an organisational role” to come forward and liaise with them. Ch Supt Peppa Mills said: | Yesterday the Metropolitan police urged “anyone with an organisational role” to come forward and liaise with them. Ch Supt Peppa Mills said: |
| We will always facilitate peaceful protest and have a strong history of doing so. However, over the last few this event has seen high levels of anti-social behaviour, crime and disorder. | We will always facilitate peaceful protest and have a strong history of doing so. However, over the last few this event has seen high levels of anti-social behaviour, crime and disorder. |
| This year we have strong reason to believe that peaceful protest is the last thing on the minds of many of the people who will come along. | This year we have strong reason to believe that peaceful protest is the last thing on the minds of many of the people who will come along. |
| Social media accounts linked to the event’s organisation have merely called for attendees to “respect diversity of tactics” by their fellow protesters. The Facebook page for the event, which begins at 6pm, says: | Social media accounts linked to the event’s organisation have merely called for attendees to “respect diversity of tactics” by their fellow protesters. The Facebook page for the event, which begins at 6pm, says: |
| We have seen the abuses and malpractice of this government, and governments before it, we have seen the encroaching destruction of many civil liberties we hold dear, we have seen the pushes to make the internet yet another part of the surveillance state, we have seen the government’s disregard for migrants, for the poor, the elderly and the disabled, we have seen the capital, profit and greed of the few put before the well-being of the many and we say enough is enough. | We have seen the abuses and malpractice of this government, and governments before it, we have seen the encroaching destruction of many civil liberties we hold dear, we have seen the pushes to make the internet yet another part of the surveillance state, we have seen the government’s disregard for migrants, for the poor, the elderly and the disabled, we have seen the capital, profit and greed of the few put before the well-being of the many and we say enough is enough. |
| We invite all the activists, the workers, the students, all doctors, nurses and all those that want to see a positive change in the world, to join us, in Trafalgar Square from 6pm, November 5th. The government and the 1% have played their hand, now it is time to play ours. | We invite all the activists, the workers, the students, all doctors, nurses and all those that want to see a positive change in the world, to join us, in Trafalgar Square from 6pm, November 5th. The government and the 1% have played their hand, now it is time to play ours. |