A police officer searches a man in central London ahead of protests today in advance of the G20 summitWednesday, 1 April 2009
Protesters gathered in the capital today for a series of demonstrations to coincide with the start of the G20 Summit.
Marches to the Bank of England, in the City of London, were designed to highlight a variety of causes. There were few signs of pinstriped suits as many City workers heeded advice to dress down.
Protesters became excitable outside the Bank of England and appeared to be tussling with police. Objects were thrown towards police photographers - including a policeman's helmet. And officers were pelted with fruit as a red smoke cannister was let off. But by noon such incidents had been isolated and the Metropolitan Police said no arrests had been reported.
There were reports that City workers were taunting the protesters - waving £10 notes from office windows..
Dozens of police officers congregated around the Tube stations as the activists began to grow in numbers. Two of the main entrances to Moorgate station were shut by police as the number of protesters outside increased.
Three teenage boys wearing bandanas were stopped by police after wearing them over their faces.
One of the boys, aged 16, from east London, said: "The police told me I'm not allowed to hide my identity. They said I had given the impression that I was about to cause anti-social behaviour. They took my bandana off me. I don't think it's right. I've done nothing wrong."
A number of the people gathered were carrying placards. One said: "Resistance is fertile."
The hundreds of protesters who gathered outside Liverpool Street station attempted to walk down Liverpool Street, into Bishopsgate and towards the Bank of England.
But police blocked Liverpool Street and ordered marchers to make their way down Old Broad Street.
A handful of protesters argued with officers and objected to being stopped from making their way into Bishopsgate.
Demonstrators carried a variety of signs including "Balls to the Banks", "Abolish Money" and "All You Fascists Are Bound to Lose".
Many demonstrators had their faces covered by scarves.
Several hundred people had gathered by the time the march set off from Moorgate Station.
Those at the front of the group of protesters carried a banner which read: "Arrest the war criminals".
Other banners included "Drop books, not bombs" and "War is terrorism".
There were no signs of trouble as the demonstrators began walking among traffic and other pedestrians towards the Bank of England, closely watched by dozens of police officers and shop staff peering out of their windows.
Hundreds of protesters gathered at London Bridge station for the march against financial crimes.
Andy, 54, from Chelmsford, did not want to give his surname, fearing he "might end up in Guantanamo Bay".
He carried a banner reading: "Financial prudence my a+US! impeach idiot Brown now."
Television star and comedian Russell Brand joined the huge mass of protesters gathering outside the Bank of England in Threadneedle Street.
Wearing a black baggy woollen hat and with a small group of friends, he waved and gave the thumbs-up to fellow demonstrators.
He said: "I always come to these kind of things, I'm very interested. I am interested in learning and interested in why these people have come to this. I wonder what alternatives there are and I think it makes people cogent of them. I think it's also very beautiful."
Standing near Cannon Street railway station, musician and political activist Billy Bragg said: "It's better than sitting down shouting at the television at these bankers. We cannot go back to the way things were before to the million-dollar bonus culture.
"Bankers' bonuses should be taxed at 90 per cent like in America. We feel frustration and we hope to send a message today that we are very angry. We need them to know that people are not going to sit back and let this continue happening to us."
Among the protesters were campaigners from War on Want, who carried a giant toy canary on a stretcher after setting off from Moorgate station for the Bank of England.
Attached to the makeshift stretcher was a placard which read "RIP Canary Wharf 1990-2009", it also listed banks including RBS, HSBC, NatWest, Abbey and LloydsTSB.
Many protesters carried signs raising financial and climate change issues. One sign read "Ice sheets melting, take action". Another said "Consumers suck" and another read "Carbon change too little too late".
Several businesses surrounding the Bank of England were boarded up and dozens of officers guarded each entrance as the protesters congregated outside.
Protesters of all ages were involved in the demonstration, ranging from teenagers to pensioners.
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