05/07/2005

G8 protestors appear in court

Some of the protestors arrested after violent clashes with police in Edinburgh yesterday have been appearing in court today.

Many of the protestors, who were appearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, were charged with breach of the peace.

Around 100 protestors were arrested following yesterday’s disturbances and more than 20 police officers and protestors. The trouble flared after the ‘Carnival for Full Enjoyment’, an event organised by anti-capitalist groups, ahead of the G8 summit later this week.

Police said that some of the activists were behaving in a “threatening and confrontational manner’ and that officers were attacked with missiles, including stones and bricks.

Some reports, however, accused the police of using “heavy-handed tactics”. Assistant Chief Constable Tom Halpin of Lothian and Borders Police said that those involved in the disturbances “were determined to cause as much disruption as possible”.

Lothian and Borders Police also claimed that the organisers of the event had not informed them or the city council of their plans.

The G8 summit is set to take place at Gleneagles in Scotland from July 6 – 8. Around 10,000 extra police officers have been drafted in from across Britain to guard the summit.

(KMcA/GB)






Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

12 November 2014
Release Of Police Killer Described As 'Sickening'
The release of a man convicted of killing three unarmed police officers in 1966 has been described as "sickening". Harry Roberts, now aged 78, has been released from prison after serving 48 years for 1966 murders of three unarmed police officers in Shepherd's Bush in west London.
05 October 2006
Review launched following Israeli embassy police row
Metropolitan Police chief Sir Ian Blair has ordered an inquiry after a Muslim police officer was excused from guarding the Israeli embassy in London.
01 October 2004
International police force 'must' be sent to Darfur
An international police presence is needed in Sudan's troubled Darfur region to ensure its vast population of internally displaced persons (IDPs) are protected, two senior United Nations human rights officials told the Security Council today.
14 May 2003
UK sends policing advisors to assist in Iraq
Policing experts are traveling to Iraq today to advise on the stabilisation of the security situation and to participate in a review on how to rebuild the Iraqi police service. The team of four will be led by Chief Constable of Hampshire - and Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) international portfolio holder - Paul Kernaghan.
06 July 2005
Protestors march to Gleneagles
Protestors participating in the march to the G8 summit have broken away from the agreed route, it has been reported. Some demonstrators managed to walk through a field and approach the steel security fence surrounding the five-star Gleneagles hotel, where G8 leaders, including Tony Blair and US President George W. Bush, are meeting.