The Occupy London camp outside St. Paul’s Cathedral was destroyed early this morning by police.
Hundreds of officers in riot gear converged on the camp just before midnight local time and began to dismantle what had become a temporary home to about 70 activists and protesters.
Police wearing high-visibility jackets dragged tents and their contents to nearby garbage trucks and dumpsters where they were crushed and destroyed.
Police in riot gear formed cordons to keep demonstrators and their supporters out of the camp. Activists say the police were met with peaceful resistance, however about 20 people were arrested.
Several dozen protesters had been camped on the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London since October 2011. It was one of the longest-surviving encampments inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement against corporate greed.
Last week, a judge rejected an appeal by protesters against the eviction order. The court ruled that the right to protest did not entitle the demonstrators to a semi-permanent camp on a public pathway.
Local authorities also claim the Occupy London was harming nearby businesses, causing waste and hygiene problems, and attracting crime and disorder.
More in the video below.
Related articles
- Police dismantle Occupy London camp (cnn.com)
- Occupy London eviction: live coverage (telegraph.co.uk)
- Police Evict Protesters From St Paul’s – Sky News (news.sky.com)
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