Over 130 activist cyclists arrested

LONDON (Reuters) - More than 130 cyclists were arrested when they ignored warnings not to ride near the Olympic Park in east London as the opening ceremony was taking place, police said on Saturday.

They were part of a group called "Critical Mass" who hold a monthly cycle ride in central London that police believe had been joined by other riders planning to stage a protest.

"The procession usually attracts approximately 100 cyclists, but on this occasion around 400 to 500 people gathered near Waterloo (station)," Scotland Yard said in a statement.

"Officers believe this may have included other individuals or groups not normally part of the monthly procession."

The arrests came after they ignored warnings not to enter the Olympic route network or go near the stadium.

Critical mass groups stage monthly events - usually on the last Friday of the month - in over 300 cities around the world with the loose aim of "reclaiming the streets."

Protests against the London Games have been minor so far and usually directed against their corporate sponsors.

(Reporting by Stephen Addison, editing by Ed Osmond)

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Over 130 activist cyclists arrested near Olympic park

(Reuters) - A magnitude 6.6 quake struck off the coast of Papua New Guinea early on Sunday local time, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The strong quake was centered 81 miles east-southeast of Rabaul, New Britain, at a depth of 43.5 miles, the USGS said. The quake was not expected to generate a tsunami, according to the …

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

130 cyclists arrested for breaking Olympic cordon

LONDON (AP) — Police protecting the Olympic Park on opening night said Saturday they arrested more than 130 activists on bicycles involved in an hours-long effort to breach the park's security cordon.

Police said they were aware that a monthly protest by cyclists was planned for Friday but ordered the protesters to remain south of the River Thames, to keep them from blocking more than 80,000 ticket-holding guests from attending the Olympics opening ceremony.

The anti-capitalist group Occupy London, part of a global movement that has waged demonstrations against financial institutions and capitalist policies, said some cyclists were members of the movement. They said police cordoned off more than 100 cyclists at one road junction near the stadium as Friday's ceremony was beginning and held them there several hours.

A Metropolitan Police statement said about 400 to 500 cyclists immediately and repeatedly sought to cross bridges north to the Olympic venue, and scores of cyclists succeeded by breaking up into smaller groups. It said police began arresting the cyclists only after several verbal warnings to leave the area were ignored.

"People have a right to protest. It is an incredibly important part of our democracy," the Metropolitan Police statement said.

"What people do not have the right to do is to hold a protest that stops other people from exercising their own rights to go about their business. That means athletes who have trained for years for their chance in a lifetime to compete; millions of ticket holders from seeing the world's greatest sporting event; and everyone else in London who wants to get around."

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.