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Police release torch protesters | Police release torch protesters |
(30 minutes later) | |
The 37 people arrested after clashes between pro-Tibet protesters and police as the Olympic torch made its way through London have been released. | The 37 people arrested after clashes between pro-Tibet protesters and police as the Olympic torch made its way through London have been released. |
Three were bailed and the rest were cautioned, given fixed penalty notices or released with no further action. | Three were bailed and the rest were cautioned, given fixed penalty notices or released with no further action. |
Protests over China's human rights record began soon after the relay began at Wembley, and prompted an increasing police presence through the city. | Protests over China's human rights record began soon after the relay began at Wembley, and prompted an increasing police presence through the city. |
Police have denied claims that they were heavy-handed with some protesters. | |
name="story"> class="bodl" href="#map">See a map of the torch relay route | |
Metropolitan Police Commander Bob Broadhurst said the 37 arrests were for "minor" public order offences, committed by a "relatively small number of people". | |
"I don't think we were heavy-handed at all," he said, stressing that the role of officers was to maintain safety and order while thousands of people were on the streets of London. | |
People cannot just come in and cause havoc with what's being done...and officers have stopped them Jo KayeMetropolitan Police Commander In pictures: Olympic Torch relayFlashpoints on torch route | |
He also pointed out that the vast majority of demonstrators were peaceful and well behaved. | |
On Monday the torch will be carried through Paris, in France, where more protests are expected. | On Monday the torch will be carried through Paris, in France, where more protests are expected. |
The Paris police chief has said the flame will be protected like a head of state. | The Paris police chief has said the flame will be protected like a head of state. |
In London, a protective ring of 10 Chinese flame attendants and fluorescent-jacketed police officers surrounded the torchbearers at all times, with additional uniformed officers joining at potential flashpoints along the route. | In London, a protective ring of 10 Chinese flame attendants and fluorescent-jacketed police officers surrounded the torchbearers at all times, with additional uniformed officers joining at potential flashpoints along the route. |
Police said there were about 500 people in Whitehall and about 2,000 gathered near the British Museum. | |
Several small scuffles broke out as police tackled some of the protesters. | |
Torch grabbed | |
At the start of the relay, three protesters were taken away by police after trying to board the open-top bus taking the torch from Wembley. | |
One protester tried to snatch the torch from former Blue Peter host Konnie Huq. | |
After an unpublicised change to the route, the Chinese ambassador carried the torch through Chinatown. | |
It later made an unscheduled move on to a bus. | |
Police decided the torch should travel along Fleet Street to St Paul's Cathedral by bus, rather than held by a runner, after it was surrounded by a large group of protesters. | Police decided the torch should travel along Fleet Street to St Paul's Cathedral by bus, rather than held by a runner, after it was surrounded by a large group of protesters. |
A contingent of pro-China supporters also tried to make their voices heard along the route, waving Chinese and Olympic flags and calling for "one China". | A contingent of pro-China supporters also tried to make their voices heard along the route, waving Chinese and Olympic flags and calling for "one China". |
Gordon Brown greeted the torch outside Number 10 despite coming under pressure to boycott the parade and the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. However he did not hold it. | Gordon Brown greeted the torch outside Number 10 despite coming under pressure to boycott the parade and the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. However he did not hold it. |
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the prime minister's involvement was "wholly inappropriate" until China opened talks with the Dalai Lama. | Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the prime minister's involvement was "wholly inappropriate" until China opened talks with the Dalai Lama. |
The torch was lit in Olympia, Greece, last week and will go through 20 countries before being carried into the Beijing Games opening ceremony on 8 August. | The torch was lit in Olympia, Greece, last week and will go through 20 countries before being carried into the Beijing Games opening ceremony on 8 August. |
LONDON TORCH RELAY 6 APRIL 1: Wembley 1030BST2: Ladbroke Grove 11003: British Museum 12204: China Town 12305: Trafalgar Square 12506: Southbank Centre 13307: Somerset House 1415 8: St Paul's Cathedral 14309: Potter's Fields 150010: Whitechapel Road 153011: Stratford 160012: Canary Wharf 170013: North Greenwich 1800 Source: Mayor of London | LONDON TORCH RELAY 6 APRIL 1: Wembley 1030BST2: Ladbroke Grove 11003: British Museum 12204: China Town 12305: Trafalgar Square 12506: Southbank Centre 13307: Somerset House 1415 8: St Paul's Cathedral 14309: Potter's Fields 150010: Whitechapel Road 153011: Stratford 160012: Canary Wharf 170013: North Greenwich 1800 Source: Mayor of London |
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