G20 April 2nd: Raids and Remembrance

With the G20 London Summit meeting, several demonstrations took place, including an early morning giant game of monopoly outside the Stock Exchange and several hundred protesting outside the ExCeL centre where the G20 were [report].

Elsewhere a remembrance event took place outside the Bank of England, near to where Ian Tomlinson died during the previous days demonstration. Heavily policed, people appealed for more information surrounding the death, and condemned the police tactics [reports 1 and 2 |Pics | Videos].

At the same time in a cynical display of power, hundreds of riot police raided two buildings associated with the protests. At Ramparts they burst through windows wearing balaclavas and aiming tazars at those inside screaming "Get down, get down" [report | Pics 1,2,3]. At Earl Street they smashed the door down and handcuffed around 40 people inside [report | Pics 1,2, 3 | Video]. A handful of arrests were made. Later those who had gathered at the Bank of England were dispersed by riot police.

Another remembrance demonstration calling for an inquiry into police actions is planned for Saturday at Bank.

See also: Twitter G20 Reports [2]

Photos of today's events: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Videos: Growing catalogue of evidence against the police

Reports: Eyewitness account | A Response to the G20 Raids

International Solidarity Actions: Auckland | Helsinki | Roma

Timeline Events Thurs 2nd | Timeline of Events Wed 1st

Earl St Convergence Centre eviction 2nd April

Timeline of events for 2 April 2009:

17:26pm: Around 20 people are currently penned near Liverpool Street in Bishopsgate.

16:45pm: A group of around 100 people are penned in near Bank. Protestors are let out of the pen one by one, but only after thay've been photographed by police FIT teams.

15:50pm: There have been three arrests at Lothbury St.

15:45pm: A crowd of about 150 is now being pushed down Lothbury Street away from Bank, by some 100 police in full riot gear. Eyewitnesses report that the police are attacking the crowd very violently.

15:30pm: About 100 demonstrators have been pushed down Prince's Street near Bank by the police. The road is now blocked as a consequence of this.

15:25pm: Alain Robert, otherwise known as 'Spiderman', is released on bail after G20LLoys Climate demo.

15:20pm: One of the groups at the Bank is now being pushed back by the police and compressed against a wall - demonstrators are holding their hands up in their air to show they are peaceful.

15:19pm: Bank: 200-400 protestors being held by the police in 3 separate cordons. Police are wearing high-viz and appear to be trying to keep the traffic flowing.

15:10pm: Monument station is being evacuated. Underground staff report it is in relation to "the protestors".

15:02pm: Eyewitness report from earlier demo: about 60 people went from Bishopsgate to Bank led by 2 white police horses and surrounded by police (however, not detained). There was a short solidarity ceremony which was mobbed out by a media frenzy; however, about 100 people had turned up in solidarity at just a few hours notice. Flowers laid and speeches held.

14:37pm: Earl Street: About 40 people were originally held, handcuffed, by the police on the floor. They were individually searched and questioned and then either kept in custody or de-arrested by the police. Currently only about 5 left. eople who were staying in the building are being allowed back in one-by-one; one individual reports that the building has been virtually destroyed, including the floorboards having been torn up. [Photos 1 | 2]

14:10pm: Police are on Sly St opposite Rampart and are currently searching six people under section 60. There are twenty or so officers present including a FIT team

14:05pm: Earl St now reported to be clear of Police. 40 people still handcuffed o the curb outside. People who left before the raid are now being allowed back in one at a time to collect their possessions. An unconfirmed report claims that people there were tazered.

13:55pm: Police have now left Rampart, there are no police left in the building or on the roof. Last few searches are occuring outside [Report of the raid]

13:47pm: There are about 150-200 protestors at Bank, along with 100-150 police, five mounted police and a van of police dogs. More police are currently arriving to form lines around the bank building.

13:38pm: Everone at Earl St is being detained. People are being led out the building one by one in handcuffs and are being filmed by FIT officers. They are then being placed up against a wall and searched and having their details taken,  Some detainees are then being led away to police vans. Four detainees have been taken away in an ambulance, but their injuries are not currently known.

13:29pm: Around 200 people protesting near the Excel centre. The demonstration is completely controlled by police and people are kept in a protest designated area without any freedom of movement. Lots of chanting but not much more happening in there.

13:25pm: 50-60 Riot Police wearing black still inside Earl St Convergence Centre. People are being detained one by one, handcuffed and photographed by FIT officers before being placed in police vans

13:12pm: Police are stopping and searching people at Bank. While a memorial event was in process and flowers were being placed by the Bank of England the police moved in and broke up the service

13:04pm: Raid at the Rampart centre ongoing. Legal observers were taken away and searched by FIT officers and threatened with arrest under anti-social behaviour legislation, the Riot police are focibly removing people. The riot police brough an embedded ITN news crew on the raid [Photos 1 | 2 ].

13:02pm: Reports of about 100 people at Bank who gathered for a short march from Bishopsgate to the Bank of England. A speech was made about yesterdays events, condeming the police brutality and launching an appeal for information about the circumstances surrounding the man who died.

12:55pm: Raids ongoing at Earl St and Rampart. Reports that people are being taken out Rampart with police claiming them to be responsible for violence yesterday.

12:50pm: 80-100 people at Bank outside the stock exchange, walking kettle, all peaceful, march coming down from Threadneedle St

12:44pm: Police are detaining everyone inside the Earl St Convergence Centre

12:40pm: Police are on the ground and top floor of Earl St, people have barricaded themselves in on the first floor

12:36pm: Police on ground floor of Earl St Convergence Centre

12:34pm: Report of Police entering Rampart with shields, building fully surrounded

12:30pm: 100 Riot police with door opening equipment and armoured vehicles are outside the Earl St Convergence Centre [pics]

12:28pm: Police officers are climbing RampARTs.

12:20pm: Bank is swarming with police, eveyone there is being searched under Section 60

12:14pm: Police are getting out ladders outside RampARTs social centre

11:44am: Police are stopping and searching people outside the Earl St convergence centre. They are taking people's phones saying that they have been stolen if people do not cooperate. Legal advice is to stay inside the convegence centre at the moment.

11:26am: There is a Tamil independence group gathering in parliament square alongside Palestinian individuals and various anti-war campaigners

11:23am: There are about 30-50 police plus two arrest vans at RampART. A group of people got stopped and searched when leaving. It is currently not clear if people are being let through to get to RampART.

11:18am: there is a lot of police at RampART.

08:55am: No more police at RampART. All is calm.

08:47am: DLR stations near ExCel are closed making it difficult for people to get to demonstrations in the area.

08:13am: FIT team were outside RampARTs for a short period.

07:30am: Stock exchange - giant monopoloy game. happening, but not much else. 40-50 people present and "millions of cops." Police are stoppingand searching people. One person arrested for having a spray can.

Contact email: imc-london@indymedia.org