Estimated 500,000 rally at anti-cuts march

• Estimated 500,000 march in London against public sector cuts • Police say protest was overwhelmingly peaceful: nine arrests • Hardliners attack Top Shop and occupy Fortnum and Mason • Read our latest summary • Read our latest news story on the march 7.01pm: There are reports on Twitter that Lilly Whites is now on fire. 6.59pm: Paul Lewis has called in with a report of a fire in Piccadilly that appears to be getting out of control. The fire is on Jermyn Street next to Piccadilly. It began about 15mins ago when clashes broke out between the police cordon and protesters. The protesters ripped up scaffolding and planks of wood, filled a waste bin and set it alight. That fire has now spread with flames reaching 11ft high, and from where I’m standing it looks like it is getting out of control. There’s a thick plume of black smoke rising into the sky. I’m about 30ft away and can feel the heat from where I’m standing. Riot police have cleared the immediate vicinity but the whole area around Piccadilly is becoming something of a magnet for people looking to cause disruption. The situation is now getting dangerous. You can see a photo of the fire here . 6.46pm: Met police saying that Fortnum and Mason is now being treated as a crime scene and threatening UKuncut with arrest. 6.40pm: My colleague Matthew Taylor has said that UKuncut have ended their occupation at Fortnum and Mason and are now being detained by police. 6.10pm: The Metropolitan police press office has said that today’s march has been largely peaceful and well ordered, with a small number of violent disruptions and just nine arrests. This is the police statement: Today’s TUC March for the Alternative has been peaceful and well-stewarded. However, there have been a number of separate incidents including the throwing of missiles in the Oxford Street area and criminal damage in Shaftesbury Avenue. Police are on the scene and dealing with this. There have been a small number of arrests made for various public order offences, criminal damage and violent disorder. We can confirm police have not advised businesses in central London to close. 6.00pm: Good evening and welcome to our continuing coverage of the March for the Alternative in London, and the aftermath. You can read our earlier live blog here. •  Around 500,000 people have joined the anti-cuts march through central London . The figure was higher than originally hoped for by the organisers. • Police said the protest had been “peaceful and well-stewarded”. But there have been a few clashes between police and activists not associated with the main march, and nine arrests have been made. • More than a dozen stores on Oxford Street were occupied by Ukuncut . The group has also occuplied the upscale department store Fortnum & Mason. Riot police have set up a kettle around the area. Public sector cuts Cuts and closures Rowenna Davis guardian.co.uk

Posted by on March 26, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.