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Danish police expect more clashes Danish police expect more clashes
(about 2 hours later)
Police in Denmark are braced for more violence after the eviction of squatters from a youth centre in the capital Copenhagen.Police in Denmark are braced for more violence after the eviction of squatters from a youth centre in the capital Copenhagen.
At least 217 people were arrested on Thursday after clashes at the Youth House (Ungdomshuset) building in the Noerrebro district. At least 217 people were arrested on Thursday after clashes around the Youth House (Ungdomshuset) building in the Noerrebro district.
Protesters threw cobblestones at police and set makeshift barricades on fire. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen has condemned the rioters.
Left-wing activists have occupied the building since 1982 but it was sold by the local council in 2000.Left-wing activists have occupied the building since 1982 but it was sold by the local council in 2000.
"We expect demonstrations but we don't know if they will be peaceful," police spokesman Flemming Steen Munch told the Reuters news agency. Large numbers of police officers are patrolling the districts of Noerrebro and the famous hippy enclave of Christiania. Reinforcements from other parts of Denmark have been called in, as the authorities anticipate more violence.
"We have a lot of police officers on the streets and have asked for reinforcements from other police districts in Denmark." The prime minister told the Danish news agency Ritzau: "It is utterly reprehensible that a few trouble-makers continue to create disorder."
A Christian group called Faderhuset bought the Ungdomshuset, now a cause celebre in Denmark, in 2001. It has a court order to have the squatters evicted but they vowed not to leave. A Christian group called Faderhuset bought the Ungdomshuset, now a cause celebre in Denmark, in 2001.
Anger at sell-off It had a court order to have the squatters evicted but they vowed not to leave saying the council had no right to sell the building while it was still in use.
The building has been used as a centre for left-wing activists for more than two decades. The squatters say the council had no right to sell the building while it was still in use. Thursday's operation to evict the squatters began at about 0700 (0600 GMT) and ended in scenes described by Danish media as a war zone.
A protest against the eviction plans in December turned violent, and more than 300 people were arrested.
On Thursday, shop owners in the Noerrebro district boarded up windows after the operation to evict the squatters began at about 0700 (0600 GMT).
Clashes with police led to 217 arrests
Youths gathered behind protest lines, yelling at police and throwing missiles.
Police in riot gear blocked the streets as an anti-terror squad dropped from helicopters onto the building's roof in a dawn raid.Police in riot gear blocked the streets as an anti-terror squad dropped from helicopters onto the building's roof in a dawn raid.
The violence later spread to towards the famous hippy enclave of Christiania. Youths then gathered behind protest lines, yelling at police and throwing missiles.
According to police, three officers and three protesters were injured. Riots spread
The violence later spread to towards Christiania.
About 25 people were injured following the eviction of the 35 squatters.
Among those arrested were foreigners from France, Germany, Norway, Poland, Lithuania, New Zealand and the US.Among those arrested were foreigners from France, Germany, Norway, Poland, Lithuania, New Zealand and the US.
There were further protests by sympathisers of the activists outside Danish diplomatic missions in Germany, Sweden, Norway and Austria.
Last December, a protest in Copenhagen against the eviction plans turned violent, and more than 300 people were arrested.