Critical Mass arrests: police charge three
Baku, July 30 (AZERTAC). Police have charged three people involved in a mass cycle procession in London during Friday`s Olympic ceremony. They confirmed that a 13-year-old was among the 182 cyclists who were arrested in what is believed to be the UK`s largest mass detention since last summer`s riots.
Some of those arrested have told the Guardian they were kettled and detained through the night in a windowless police "garage" and single-decker buses.
The operation by the Metropolitan police was aimed at halting about 200 cyclists on the monthly Critical Mass bike ride from travelling in and around the Olympic Route Network as Danny Boyle`s "Isles of Wonder" opening spectacle unfolded.
Transport police have confirmed that one officer used CS gas during the arrests. Those arrested were part of pedal bike procession that has traditionally taken place in the capital on the last Friday of the month for the past 18 years.
One 32-year-old electrician who did not want to be named said he was picked up by police, even though he was not part of the event.
He said he was simply riding his bike past the Critical Mass group when he was arrested near the Bow flyover and held overnight in Croydon in a windowless room with a bare concrete floor.
Another arrested cyclist, who only wanted to be known as Henry, said as he waited two hours to be processed by the police he was beside a 13-year-old who had his hands handcuffed behind his back, along with others who had been picked up by police.
The Met confirmed several people were held on buses while waiting to be processed, but described the building as a "former transport garage", which had been converted to use as a police custody suite.
In a statement on Sunday police said: "Officers were aware that a monthly cycle procession was due to take place on 27 July and made several attempts to engage with riders to discuss their plans …
Other news in this section
