‘Peaceful protest’ turns violent
Riot police have once again been drafted in to deal with hostile uprisings outside the G8 summit at Gleneagles.
Several hundred campaigners have been partaking in relatively “trouble-free” protests all day after police earlier reversed a decision to ban an organised march from taking place.
Several senior officers had voiced concern that today’s march would provide impetus for the same kind of scenes of violence that yesterday saw more than 60 people arrested, and should not therefore be permitted at all.
However, an amended plan for the march was drawn up after Tayside police reached agreement with a protest group calling itself the G8 Alternatives.
The demonstrators were obliged to cooperate with police and leave by about 17:00 BST, but the situation in the village of Auchterarder, near the Gleneagles estate, rapidly deteriorated just before the ordained departure time.
Protestors again confronted police and broke through wire fences, prompting scores of extra police to arrive. Officers have since had some success in controlling flaring tempers.
Tayside police have suggested that in excess of 1,500 people turned up at the site, with the majority in attendance there on peaceful protest missions.
Speaking earlier, Tayside police assistant chief constable Willie Bald said he was dissatisfied by the unnecessary scenes caused by a “mindless minority”.
“Public safety has always been our priority and anyone who watched the television pictures of criminal and violent activities in Stirling this morning would understand why we have had to proceed cautiously to ensure this march could go ahead safely,” he said.
