Guardian 5/1/09
London clashes: protesters tell of fear and panic
Demonstrators yesterday told how they feared they were going to die after riot police charged hundreds of people in an underground tunnel in London, which led to stampedes and panic. The clashes came after protesters from Saturday's march against Israel's attack on Gaza tried to cross London to continue their demonstration. Scotland Yard was criticised for the level of violence used by its officers and its tactics against hundreds of people ordered into an underpass as they tried to walk from Trafalgar Square to Israel's embassy in west London. People told of being trapped under each other and of hearing screams of fear as police charged the crowds three times in the confined space of the Piccadilly underpass on the edge of Hyde Park. Scotland Yard said riot police charged after they were attacked and that their tactics were proportionate. People trapped in the tunnel said the police were not attacked. Among several people injured was Asil Alrashidi, 23, a bank worker from Langley, Berkshire. She said she feared she and her sister would die after they were trapped in a crush of people as a stampede broke out when protesters panicked amid repeated charges by baton-wielding riot police. She said she suffered bruising after being knocked to the floor. "I was petrified," she said. "The riot police were charging and pushing people, hitting them with their batons. I was trapped with people coming at us. They were falling on us, trampling us. "There was screaming and shouting, I thought I was going to die. I was holding my sister, our hands were separating and I could hear her screaming my name. I think there were 20 to 30 people on top of me." Chris Ninehams, chief steward for the march, organised by the Stop the War Coalition, said the level of police violence was unprecedented. Scotland Yard said in a statement: "Officers made a 10-metre advance into the crowd to regain control of the protest, using recognised and proportionate tactics."
London clashes: protesters tell of fear and panic
Demonstrators yesterday told how they feared they were going to die after riot police charged hundreds of people in an underground tunnel in London, which led to stampedes and panic. The clashes came after protesters from Saturday's march against Israel's attack on Gaza tried to cross London to continue their demonstration. Scotland Yard was criticised for the level of violence used by its officers and its tactics against hundreds of people ordered into an underpass as they tried to walk from Trafalgar Square to Israel's embassy in west London. People told of being trapped under each other and of hearing screams of fear as police charged the crowds three times in the confined space of the Piccadilly underpass on the edge of Hyde Park. Scotland Yard said riot police charged after they were attacked and that their tactics were proportionate. People trapped in the tunnel said the police were not attacked. Among several people injured was Asil Alrashidi, 23, a bank worker from Langley, Berkshire. She said she feared she and her sister would die after they were trapped in a crush of people as a stampede broke out when protesters panicked amid repeated charges by baton-wielding riot police. She said she suffered bruising after being knocked to the floor. "I was petrified," she said. "The riot police were charging and pushing people, hitting them with their batons. I was trapped with people coming at us. They were falling on us, trampling us. "There was screaming and shouting, I thought I was going to die. I was holding my sister, our hands were separating and I could hear her screaming my name. I think there were 20 to 30 people on top of me." Chris Ninehams, chief steward for the march, organised by the Stop the War Coalition, said the level of police violence was unprecedented. Scotland Yard said in a statement: "Officers made a 10-metre advance into the crowd to regain control of the protest, using recognised and proportionate tactics."
Picture: Indymedia
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