Copenhagen climate change summit: Up to 1,000 arrested and two Britons deported as rioters clash with police

Almost 1,000 climate change activists were arrested at a massive protest in Copenhagen yesterday after rioters clashed with police and smashed shop windows.

At least two Britons have been deported for allegedly spitting on an officer and carrying out acts of vandalism.

An estimated 100,000 protesters took to the streets of the Danish capital where a UN climate change summit is taking place as part of worldwide 'Day of Action' to fight global warming.
The demonstration, attended by stars including British actress Helen Baxendale and Danish model Helena Christensen, was largely peaceful for most of the day.

Police officers take cover guarding the Foreign Ministry as protesters shoot fireworks at them during the march in Copenhagen


Clash: Police make arrests amid a scuffle as the protest became more heated during the late afternoon

But the mood changed late in the afternoon when hundreds of youths dressed in black threw bricks and smashed windows of buildings in the centre of the city.

Tensions rose and there were also clashes with police during the protest while others staged street sit-ins in their bid to demand a fair and binding new global deal to tackle climate change.

It marked the halfway point of crunch UN talks.

Last night protesters said officers used an unnecessarily heavy-handed approach in dealing with the protesters.

The World Development Movement's director Deborah Doane said: 'It's absolutely outrageous that the police responded in this extreme manner on an incredibly family-friendly march.

'It's a complete violation of the right to protest and a step towards the breakdown of democracy.

'This is the most crucial issue of our time and the people must be heard, not criminalised.'

Arrests: Police detain a group of demonstrators


down protest: Demonstrators sit on the ground as police surround them near the conference hall

Campaign group Climate Justice Action claimed protesters had been indiscriminately arrested by Danish police.

Helga Matthiassen, who was campaigning with the group said she was detained for an hour before being released due to an injury she had recently sustained.

She said: 'Not only have we been denied the right to protest, but our basic human rights have also been ignored in this ludicrous, staged police exercise.'

The protest included a mass rally outside the country’s parliament and a march to the conference centre where negotiations on a new global warming deal are taking place.

A Copenhagen police spokeswoman confirmed two Britons were deported for vandalism and spitting on a police officer during the protests.

About 1.000 people had been arrested during the demonstrations, she said.

Crowds: Police said 25,000 people attended - but organisers believe 100,000 marched (above and below)

Many of the protesters were held over Denmark's strict laws against carrying pocket knives or wearing masks during demonstrations.

Official police estimates put the number of protesters at 25,000, but organisers said as many as 100,000 had joined the march from central Copenhagen, waving banners that read ‘Nature doesn’t compromise’ and ‘Climate Justice Now’.

Demonstrators were forced to the ground and then bundled into vans, according to reports.

To mark The Global Day of Action on climate change, campaigners also staged events around the world, including a four-minute ‘flashdance’ with lights performed outside the Houses of Parliament, with volunteers across London collecting messages from citizens to deliver to MPs.

Miss Baxendale said thousands of people from all over the world were trying to encourage their leaders to take ‘firm and fair action’.
She told Sky News it was 'inspiring' and said: 'It's fantastic to join with so many other people from all over the world.'

Confrontation: Violent protesters holding flares face police while wearing masks - illegal in Denmark

Danish model Helena Christensen addressing demonstrators in the centre of Copenhagen
‘I think it’s also important that people come and make their voices heard as well.
‘I think, in the end, that’s what will make real, positive change.’

Miss Christensen said: ‘They will be very bad politicians if they do not hear us by now.’

Environment ministers started arriving in the Danish capital today for informal talks before world leaders join the summit late next week.
Initial reaction to the negotiating text submitted yesterday underscored the split between the US-led wealthy countries and countries still struggling to overcome poverty and catch up with the modern world.
The tightly-focused document was meant to lay out the main themes for environment ministers to wrestle with as they prepare for a summit of about 110 heads of state and government at the end of next week. (Read more... )


source: dailymail.co.uk