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London George Floyd protests: Anti-racism activists attack Downing Street gates as riot police deployed

AFP via Getty Images
AFP via Getty Images

Anti-racism protesters hurled temporary barriers and glass bottles at the gates of Downing Street and riot police were deployed as skirmishes continued into Wednesday night.

Crowds had flocked to Hyde Park at 1pm on Wednesday before marching towards Parliament in protest against discrimination in the UK.

But after a peaceful start to the day, physical altercations broke out as tensions rose outside the Prime Minister's residence later in the day.

As chaos escalated, two men were arrested outside Downing Street on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and violent disorder, Scotland Yard said.

The crowds were not deterred and just before 10pm some protesters pulled down a line of temporary barriers outside Downing Street.

Plastic and glass bottles were then thrown at the metal gates outside No 10.

Riot police officers have been deployed along Whitehall (AFP via Getty Images)
Riot police officers have been deployed along Whitehall (AFP via Getty Images)

Officers stationed in No 10 tried to return the temporary barriers to their original position but had to quickly retreat back inside when more bottles were thrown.

Protesters then picked up the temporary barriers and threw them at the gates, with more objects thrown in the direction of police.

Some of the temporary barriers were also used by protesters to block off Whitehall.

Later a number of police vans descended on the area with social media footage showing officers using batons to try and ward off advancing demonstrators.

Meanwhile, a protestor was seen kneeling in front of riot police in the middle of the fray as he appealed for calm from his fellow protesters.

Earlier in the evening, a group of protesters climbed up onto the window sills on the outside of the Treasury building, where they chanted and held placards.

A protestor was seen kneeling in front of riot police in the middle of the fray as he appealed for calm from his fellow protesters.(AFP via Getty Images)
A protestor was seen kneeling in front of riot police in the middle of the fray as he appealed for calm from his fellow protesters.(AFP via Getty Images)

Crowds also descended on police – who were wearing helmets and holding batons – outside of the Cabinet Office, which has been daubed with “BLM” in black paint

Both plastic and glass bottles were thrown in the direction of officers, with some objects striking the back of the police van.

Officers then formed a line outside Downing Street as protesters, some on bikes, chanted, before more police vans arrived.

More than 10 Metropolitan Police territorial support group vans gathered at Parliament Square at around 9pm.

A group of protesters knelt in front of the vans, chanting “let us live” and holding up their placards.

The demonstrations were organised in response to the death of African-American man George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Protests, some violent, have spread across the US after a white police officer was filmed kneeling on the neck of Mr Floyd for minutes. The 46-year-old later died in police custody.

While London's demonstration was, for the most part, peaceful, skirmishes started breaking out by Downing Street at around 5pm.

Witnesses said a protester fell over the police barricades by Downing Street, sparking mayhem.

But freelance journalist Mattha Busby, who filmed the choas and said it was “unclear exactly what started things”.

"Police appeared to attempt to take a man from the crowd and pandemonium ensued,” he tweeted.

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