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The day started peacefully, with protesters streaming across Waterloo Bridge towards the protest organised by the TUC to oppose the coalition government's spending cuts
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Up to a quarter of a million people joined the protest in London, the biggest union-organised march for more than 20 years and the largest in the country since the anti-war march in 2003
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A line of police block Regent Street in the West End of London
Picture: ANTHONY UPTON |
A breakaway group left the main march around lunchtime and started to behave in a violent manner
Picture: GETTY |
Visitors to London and High Street shoppers were shocked at the violence erupting around them
Picture: REUTERS |
The breakaway group targeted High Street shops and banks in Central London
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The attack on Topshop forced many of the neighbouring shops on Oxford Street to close
Picture: REUTERS |
The Metropolitan Police has been criticized for failing to pick up on the breakaway group of hard-core demonstrators.
Picture: REUTERS |
The breakaway group of protesters seem to be comprised of black bloc anarchists. Many covered their faces with scarves and carried black and red flags
Picture: ANTHONY UPTON |
The Ritz Hotel was attacked by masked men throwing tables and scaffolding poles
Picture: REUTERS |
A protester attempts to smash the window of a HSBC bank branch with a brick
Picture: EPA |
A flare gushes green smoke as a hooded rioter attacks a branch of HSBC bank
Picture: EDDIE MULHOLLAND |
Paint, fireworks and flares were thrown at buildings and the police were attacked
Picture: CAMERA PRESS |
Lloyds TSB bank on Piccadilly came under attack from protesters, at least one large plate glass window has been smashed, with banner poles now being used as weapons, while red paint bombs have been thrown
Picture: NATIONAL |
Police at the event were attacked with a multitude of weapons, including powerful Thunderflash fireworks, and their vehicles attacked
Picture: REX |
Demonstrators lit a fire in a skip near Jermyn Street, Piccadilly, that burned fiercely and threatened to spread to nearby buildings
Picture: REUTERS |
The fire was eventually brought under control
Picture: EPA |
The violence moved to Trafalgar Square later in the night, with protesters setting banners ablaze and throwing missiles including broken bottles at police officers. As police contained protesters around Nelson's Column, there were running battles in The Strand
Picture: PA
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