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More than 200 people arrested in connection with disorder that followed largely peaceful demonstration on Saturday Police have charged 149 people with various offences in connection with the disorder that followed the peaceful protest by hundreds of thousands of people against the government’s spending cuts at the weekend. Approximately 201 people were arrested after trouble flared late in the afternoon after the demonstration in central London on Saturday. A Metropolitan police spokesman said officers arrested 145 people in connection with the incident at the Fortnum & Mason store in Piccadilly. One hundred and thirty-eight have been charged with aggravated trespass and bailed to appear at City of Westminster magistrates court on various dates from 9 May. The remaining seven have been bailed pending further inquiries. Two other people are due before the same court on Monday – one charged with possession of an offensive weapon and another charged with violent disorder and assault on a police officer. Seven others were charged and bailed to appear at the same court from 9 May: one was charged under section four of the Public Order Act, another with being drunk and disorderly, two with assault on a police officer and three with criminal damage. Omar Ibrahim, 31, of Glasgow Road, Baillieston, Glasgow, was charged with violent disorder and assault on police outside Topshop in Oxford Street. He was bailed to appear at City of Westminster magistrates court in May. A 17-year-old from Manchester will face charges of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and going equipped for criminal damage. He was bailed to appear at west London youth court on 4 April. Three people were cautioned for criminal damage. Two were released with no further action, while 47 have been bailed to return to various London police stations over the coming few days and weeks, the force said. Commander Bob Broadhurst, who led the Met police operation, said the groups “could not have been more markedly different” from the TUC march, which was “overwhelmingly peaceful and good humoured”. He revealed that the activists had developed their tactics to avoid police by keeping mobile, using small alleyways and covering their faces. “Their intent appeared to be causing havoc, with no concern at all for those people in central London they were putting in danger. “Officers came under attack, fires were set and shops attacked,” he said. Union leaders have vowed to continue campaigning against the cuts amid mounting anger at clashes with police and damage to stores and other buildings during the demonstration. Unofficial estimates put the numbers taking part in the earlier protest at nearly 500,000, with tens of thousands of people still joining the march through central London as a rally in Hyde Park got under way. A group wearing scarves to hide their faces started attacking shops and banks well away from the march, causing damage and clashing with some of the 4,500 police on duty. The Metropolitan police is reviewing evidence collected from CCTV cameras and police officers. A cleanup operation was launched in the wake of the disorder. The TUC general secretary, Brendan Barber, said the so-called March for the Alternative exceeded expectations, with nurses, teachers, council staff, NHS workers, other public sector employees, pensioners, students and other campaign groups taking part in the biggest union-organised protest for a generation. “It now looks like close to half a million people came to London to express their peaceful but powerful opposition to the government’s deep, rapid and unfair spending cuts. “We are proud of the way that we organised our march and the way that our stewards helped ensure a good-natured and friendly event. “Of course we condemn the small numbers who came looking for violence but we will not allow their actions away from our event to detract from our campaign. “With the budget a damp squib, the economy faltering and the NHS reforms becoming more unpopular each and every day, marchers will have returned home determined to step up their democratic campaign against policies that neither government party put before the electorate at the last election.” The leader of the GMB, Paul Kenny, said the local elections on 5 May should be a referendum on the government’s economic and social policies. A police spokesman said there were 84 injuries reported during the protests, including at least 31 police, with 11 officers requiring hospital treatment. The injuries were described as “relatively minor”, including cuts and bruises, suspected whiplash and a possible broken collar bone. Unions are planning fresh campaigns in the coming days against cuts in the NHS and considering co-ordinated industrial action. Public sector cuts Protest TUC Trade unions Police London guardian.co.uk