Anti-austerity protesters take to UK streets after Tory election victory

Seventeen people were arrested and several injured as protesters clashed with police at an anti-austerity demonstration against the new Tory government outside Downing Street. The crowd voiced their anger at David Cameron’s party, a day after he claimed victory in the General Election. The Women’s War Memorial in Whitehall was defaced with graffiti during the unplanned rally, which started outside Conservative campaign headquarters. Protesters threw bottles, cans and smoke bombs at police in Central London. Scuffles then broke out when the demonstrators, blaring hooters, banging pots and chanting obscenities, confronted lines of police outside the gate leading to the prime minister’s Downing Street residence. At one point a bicycle was hurled at police.

A number of protestors engaged in violence and disorder and a containment was put in place to prevent any further breach of the peace.

Chief Superintendent Gerry Campbell

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