Chaos on the streets of London: Million Mask March anarchist - in a £500 jacket - trashes police car as fireworks are aimed at horses in clashes outside Buckingham Palace and Hunger Games premiere
- Thousands of masked anti-capitalist demonstrators descended on central London for a Bonfire Night protest
- Video footage taken shows activist smashing up flaming police car while wearing jacket worth hundreds of pounds
- They also tried to target Buckingham Palace, launching bottles, cones and fireworks at mounted police outside
- A total of 44 people have been arrested and at least three police officers have been taken to hospital with injuries
- Anonymous, the anarchist hacking group behind the march, told those taking part, 'police are not your friends'
- Do you know the protester in the pricey Colmar jacket? Call 0203 615 1265 or email lucy.crossley@mailonline.co.uk
Hundreds of anarchists were held back by police outside Buckingham Palace. They aimed fireworks at the police horses and also tried to dazzle them with laser pointers.
Another group targeted the UK premiere of the new Hunger Games film in Leicester Square, moments after Hollywood stars including Jennifer Lawrence and Julianne Moore had walked the red carpet.
Meanwhile, one anarchist was filmed smashing up a flaming police car - while wearing a Colmar ski jacket that cost around £475.
Elsewhere, officers were forced to brandish their batons after clashes turned violent as the vandals marauded through the streets, setting off smoke bombs and daubing graffiti. A total of 44 people have been arrested and at least three officers have been taken to hospital with injuries.
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A police car was set on fire by an anti-capitalist demonstrator, who was wearing a Colmar ski jacket that cost hundreds of pounds
The protestor clad in his expensive jacket, similar versions of which retail for between £100 and £500, could be seen attacking the police car's windscreen with a metal frame
A man is detained by two police officers on Regent Street in London during the Million Mask March bonfire night protest
One protester is seen appearing to attempt to strike police officers with a long piece of wood (left). He was then reprimanded (right)
A masked protester carries a smoke bomb above the crowd as the march makes its way from Trafalgar Square towards Whitehall
Anti-capitalist protestors reach Buckingham Palace during the Million Mask march, where mounted police officers were targeted
Police officers were forced brandish their batons as clashes with protesters on Great George Street, Westminster, turned violent
A protester with his face covered swears at the camera as another man fuels the flames burning on the windshield of a police car
Mounted police officers struggled to control their horses as protesters launched fireworks at the animals and shone lasers in their eyes
Demonstrators used lasers to spook mounted police officers who were on hand to keep the peace outside Buckingham Palace
A demonstrator lobs a traffic cone at mounted officers who formed a line outside Buckingham Palace, where protesters gathered
It came hours after Anonymous, the anarchist hacking group behind the 'Million Mask March' warned 'police are not your friends'. Russell Brand and Vivienne Westwood had joined the group’s supporters on a November 5 protest last year that saw spectacular clashes with police.
Earlier, three men carrying knives, gas canisters and lock picks were arrested in Trafalgar Square after a police stop and search. Police had held three people at about 2.30pm after spotting a group of men acting suspiciously.
Strict restrictions were placed on the protesters, who had agreed to march from Trafalgar Square to Whitehall. But violence erupted as crowds broke away from the main collective, gathering outside Buckingham Palace and Leicester Square.
Officers began to make more arrests after the protest’s 9pm deadline expired. Forty-four people have now been arrested, with 27 detained for public order offences and two for assaulting a police officer.
A line of police dog-handlers guarded the entrace to the BBC as some protesters ran up Regent Street, trapping staff and customers in designer stores as they launched fireworks indiscriminately. Other activists ended up in Mayfair, where windows were smashed and bins upturned.
Demonstrators also ended up in Mayfair's Conduit Street, where windows were smashed. Staff and customers also became trapped inside a designer shop off Regent Street as the protest raged outside.
Video footage taken tonight shows a protester, his face covered, smashing up a flaming police car near Green Park, in central London. Moments later, another activist climbs on top of the car and starts jumping up and down before being pulled away by a bystander.
It is understood the anti-capitalist protester was wearing a jacket worth hundreds of pounds as he carried out his campaign of destruction. The jacket, believed to be from brand Colmar, where padded jackets start at £260. He is believed to be wearing one that costs £475.
A police officer extinguishes flmaes after a police car was set ablaze by anti-capitalist protester
A protester carrying a real pigs head joins the march, in reference to the alleged drunken antics at the centre of the 'PigGate' scandal
A protester comes out with a bloodied head as crowds surge forward on Great George Street in central London
A man struggles as he is detained by police officers in central London after violent clashes erupted during the demonstrations
The burnt out shell of the police car that was set alight by protesters during the march before being smashed with a metal railing
Smoke bombs and flares were set off above the crowds as thousands marched through central London on the Million Mask March
Thousands of protesters rampaged through London, launching missiles at police who formed a barricade as they controlled the crowd
A campaigner with a placard reading, 'one solution: revolution', stands next to a burning police car as he takes part in the demonstrations
A group of men add fuel to the fire as a police vehicle burns on a road near Green Park, central London, after violence erupted
Vandals marauded through the streets, setting off smoke bombs and daubing graffiti. Above, one protester climbs on top of the police car
Other clips posted online by James Cropper show crowds of people marching through central London before some are apparently kettled by police.
There was a surge of activity around half an hour into the march, as protesters ran towards the Churchill War Rooms near Great George Street, a short distance from Conservative Party headquarters, which were closed off.
Bottles were launched over the barriers towards officers, which was met with cheers and chants of 'Shame on you, we're human too.' A line of police and mounted officers formed a barrier against the densely packed protesters. Those who could get their arms above their waist held phones aloft.
Self-proclaimed anarchist Aztecarna Peatonito, from Mexico, said he wanted to fight inequality. ‘We tried for six years to get the Press to take us seriously,’ he said. ‘It is only when we wore the masks that we started getting attention.’
One activist, who gave her name as Lola, said she had travelled from Hull.
‘There are people who aren’t represented, they should be here. I am the people,’ she said. ‘The media twist it. We are peaceful, we are doing this in a peaceful manner, but the media focus on the 1 per cent who cause trouble.’
Another, who gave his name as Shero, said: ‘As an English Muslim, I feel I am not represented. We live in a corp-ocracy, not a democracy. We need to change that.’
Bottles were launched over the barriers towards officers, which was met with cheers and chants of 'Shame on you, we're human too'
Police officers form a barricade as they try and block masked demonstrators marching through London during the Million Mask March
Demonstrations: Campaigners wearing sinister Guy Fawkes masks - made famous in the film V for Vendetta - gathered in Trafalgar Square
Defiant: Anonymous, the anarchist hacking group behind the event, told those taking part, 'police are not your friends'
Protest: The demonstration, known as the Million Mask March, is one of dozens organised at the same time in cities around the world
The Metropolitan Police tweeted that arrests are being made for a number of public order offences after the protests turned violence
Some activists screamed ‘Whose streets? Our streets’ as confused tourists looked on and took pictures. Others carried placards bearing the message: ‘One solution: Revolution.’
Terry Small, 20, from Plymouth, emerged from a crowd with blood pouring from his head. He alleged he had been hit a number of times by an officer with a baton.
Ahead of the march, the Metropolitan Police said they had 'strong reason to believe' that peaceful protest is the 'last thing on the minds of many of the people who will come along'. Last year, 10 people were arrested over vandalism to public buildings and violence towards police officers.
Scotland Yard said the march must not continue after 9pm and must be limited to a section of the West End including Trafalgar Square, where it started, and Westminster. Police said past events have seen 'high levels of anti-social behaviour, crime and disorder'.
Chief Superintendent Pippa Mills said: 'It is unacceptable that a small minority should believe they have the right to break the law, harass people, damage buildings and attack police officers.
'My message to those people planning on attending on Thursday night is if you want to take part in peaceful protest, that is your right and we want to work with you. If you want to break the law then we will police you. Where offences are committed, we will investigate them and make arrests.'
The Metropolitan Police said they had 'strong reason to believe that peaceful protest is the last thing on the minds of many of the people
Brandishing flags and placards, protesters met in Trafalgar Square ahead of the march through central London towards Whitehall
Police have reiterated that they are able to remove masks where they think there will be criminal offences
The restrictions were imposed through the Public Order Act 1986. Police have reiterated that they are able to remove masks where they think there will be criminal offences.
A Facebook page for the event, run by Million Mask March London, said: 'The police are not your friends, this goes for police liaison officers too, they're simply a 'friendly face' who collect intelligence.'
More than 20,000 people said on Facebook that they will attend the event, which is described by its website as the 'World's Largest Protest by the Most Influential Group in the World'.
A Twitter account which appeared to be affiliated to the Facebook page for Million Mask March tweeted to the Metropolitan Police: 'We Are coming in peace ! Please remember this fact ! We Are A Peaceful Collective ! See yal tomora.'
The march could mean a second day of trouble for police, after 12 people were arrested when a protest held by students calling for free education descended into violence. Most of the demonstrators were peaceful but a number turned violent as the march passed Government buildings.
Dozens of protesters dressed in military fatigues joined the demonstration in central London with signs reading, 'No more cuts'
Tight restrictions have been imposed on the central London demonstrations, pictured, through the Public Order Act 1986
More than 20,000 people have said on Facebook that they will attend the event, which started in Trafalgar Square at 6pm this evening
The protest, pictured, is described by its website as the 'World's Largest Protest by the Most Influential Group in the World'
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