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Denmark rioters' squat demolished | Denmark rioters' squat demolished |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Bulldozers have begun the demolition of a building at the centre of rioting in the Danish capital Copenhagen, after the eviction of squatters last week. | Bulldozers have begun the demolition of a building at the centre of rioting in the Danish capital Copenhagen, after the eviction of squatters last week. |
About 650 people have been arrested following three nights of clashes between protesters and police. | About 650 people have been arrested following three nights of clashes between protesters and police. |
The unrest has been some of the worst seen in the Danish capital for decades. | The unrest has been some of the worst seen in the Danish capital for decades. |
The trouble began after an anti-terror squad raided the Ungdomshuset building, which had been occupied by left-wing activists since the 1980s. | The trouble began after an anti-terror squad raided the Ungdomshuset building, which had been occupied by left-wing activists since the 1980s. |
The local government sold the building to a Christian group in 2000, which then obtained a court order to have the squatters evicted. | The local government sold the building to a Christian group in 2000, which then obtained a court order to have the squatters evicted. |
Mechanical diggers bring the Ungdomshuset crashing to earthEnlarge Image | |
But the activists vowed not to leave, saying the council had no right to sell the building while it was still in use. | But the activists vowed not to leave, saying the council had no right to sell the building while it was still in use. |
They feared the Ungdomshuset, or Youth House, which had become an international cause celebre, would be knocked down if they were turned out. | They feared the Ungdomshuset, or Youth House, which had become an international cause celebre, would be knocked down if they were turned out. |
And so it turned out on Monday morning, when at 0800 (0700 GMT) the demolition began. | And so it turned out on Monday morning, when at 0800 (0700 GMT) the demolition began. |
Workmen wore masks and the company names on their vehicles were blacked out, apparently as a precaution against any reprisals. | Workmen wore masks and the company names on their vehicles were blacked out, apparently as a precaution against any reprisals. |
The scene was watched over by large numbers of police and a small number of young people. | The scene was watched over by large numbers of police and a small number of young people. |
"They are breaking my heart. I cannot stand it," said Birgitte, a black-clad 21-year-old woman with dreadlocks. | "They are breaking my heart. I cannot stand it," said Birgitte, a black-clad 21-year-old woman with dreadlocks. |
'Ringleaders' held' | |
The capital had been relatively quiet for the previous 24 hours, though earlier the confrontation over the house provoked some of the worst unrest in decades. | The capital had been relatively quiet for the previous 24 hours, though earlier the confrontation over the house provoked some of the worst unrest in decades. |
The districts of Noerrebro and Christiania were left looking like a war zone after barricades and cars were set on fire. | The districts of Noerrebro and Christiania were left looking like a war zone after barricades and cars were set on fire. |
Protesters tore up cobble stones torn up and hurled them at police, who had responded with organised charges, the BBC's Julian Isherwood reported. | Protesters tore up cobble stones torn up and hurled them at police, who had responded with organised charges, the BBC's Julian Isherwood reported. |
Police said they had many of the ringleaders of the rioting in cells by Monday, after making a large number of arrests over the weekend. | Police said they had many of the ringleaders of the rioting in cells by Monday, after making a large number of arrests over the weekend. |
Many have been remanded in custody for up to two weeks, and some of the foreign nationals involved - predominantly from Germany and Sweden - are being deported. | Many have been remanded in custody for up to two weeks, and some of the foreign nationals involved - predominantly from Germany and Sweden - are being deported. |
The weekend also saw peaceful demonstrations taking place in support of the protesters. | The weekend also saw peaceful demonstrations taking place in support of the protesters. |
Around 1,000 bicyclists staged a mounted protest on Sunday, while banners proclaiming "Long live Ungdomshuset!" and "Stop police violence!" were held aloft. | Around 1,000 bicyclists staged a mounted protest on Sunday, while banners proclaiming "Long live Ungdomshuset!" and "Stop police violence!" were held aloft. |