Mayor calls violent protestors ‘fascist agitators’

LONDON’S deputy mayor has condemned those involved in Saturday’s violence in central London as “fascist agitators” as he defended the actions of the Metropolitan Police.

Kit Malthouse said criticisms of alleged intelligence failings by the Met were “unfair” and added officers had carried out “a huge amount of work” in preparing for Saturday’s massive TUC (Trades Union Congress) march.

Organisers estimated that between 400,000 and 500,000 people took part in a peaceful march through central London against the Government’s spending cuts, which culminated in a rally in Hyde Park.

Separately there were violent clashes with the police in parts of the West End, and more than 200 people are in custody.

Activists fought with riot police in Trafalgar Square, with some throwing missiles and attempting to damage the Olympic clock within the square.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said officers had “come under sustained attack” as they tried to deal with the disorder and attempted criminal damage. The area was eventually cleared by around 2.45am.

But former Met deputy assistant commissioner Brian Paddick said there were not enough officers “in the right place at the right time” and suggested intelligence had not been heeded.

He told BBC Radio 4’s The World this Weekend: “It appears to me that they just didn’t have the right numbers of officers in the right place at the right time to prevent not only the problems at Fortnum and Mason but at Trafalgar Square.”

But Mr Malthouse, who chairs the Metropolitan Police Authority, dismissed criticisms by “armchair generals”.

“We should all be angry that what was a peaceful and legitimate protest was hijacked by about 250 criminals.”