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Violence erupted in east London last night at an angry protest over the death of Rashan Charles, who died after being chased by police.

A large gang of protesters - many of whom had their faces covered - clashed with riot police as tensions came to a head in Dalston.

The group of masked demonstrators blocked busy Kingsland Road before hurling bottles, stones and other objects at police and starting a fire in the middle of the road.

Two helicopters, riot police and horses were drafted in as officers with shields were seen rushing into the violence in an attempt to bring it under control.

The windows of several shops in Kingsland High Street were smashed, with the trouble reaching beyond Dalston Kingsland Station.

Restaurants and bars also pulled down their shutters, locking customers inside, as one group of people barricaded themselves shut in a Tesco store.

Rashan Charles, 20, was chased into a shop by officers in Dalston on Saturday night. He was restrained on the floor and later died after apparently swallowing an object and being "taken ill".

The police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission, has since launched a probe into his death.

Friday night's protest turned violent when scores of missiles were launched at police as they attempted to disperse the group.

An anonymous witness said: “I was walking home from my brother’s house. He lives at one end of Kingsland Road and I live in the other.

“There were hundreds of police, 10 vans, five horses and two helicopters

“People are chanting 'we want justice' and 'justice for Rash'."

The protest began at around 4pm on Friday, when approximately 80 people began gathering outside the shop where Mr Charles died, Yours Locally.

Motorists driving along Kingsland Road told how they were unable to get through the makeshift blockade - made from traffic cones, wheelie bins and rubbish bags - as they were “cornered” in their cars by groups of protesters.

Shortly afterwards, police riot vans arrived at the scene. By 6pm, protesters had managed to push back the line of officers three times, passers-by said.

A helicopter circled overhead as people at the scene reported the street being "covered in glass".

One passer-by told the Standard in the early evening: "It's really kicking off.

"There's lots of police here, about 10 to 15 riot vans. Maybe 50 or 60 bottles or other missiles have been thrown.

"The police line is being slowly pushed back by the protesters. There's lots of very angry people."

Hours later, at around 10pm, a lorry was seen driving through the barricade, hitting a line of wheelie bins in its path.

Protesters jumped onto the vehicle, clinging to the window, while one sat on a bin which was pushed along by the lorry.

A man clambered onto the roof of the vehicle but it continued to drive as people continued to throw bottles.

Several other wheelie bins and a mattress were set alight in a burning pile in the middle of the road.

One woman from east London told the Standard the young people were “intimidating drivers”.

The Dalston resident, who wished not to be named, said earlier: “A huge group of youths are blocking the road off with cones.

“They are telling drivers they are not allowed through the blockade.

“I ended up driving right through it as I was cornered in the car and didn't want to u-turn as two groups of gang members appeared on either side of my car which frightened me.

“Straight ahead was a better option. Helicopter is now overhead and traffic is at a standstill. Mopeds are in road and masks are on their faces.”

Local Matt Palutikof said: "I saw probably five masked guys running down Kingsland Road holding what looked like long wooden sticks.

"They ran off while shouting down my side street. I then saw police on horses and trucks with riot police.

"There were girls screaming and running down my road."

Another anonymous person, who witnessed the situation unfold from his bedroom window, said: "An enormous police presence with dogs, horses, riot gear and helicopters working their way up Kingsland High Street and pushing the crowds back.

"It wasn't the same crowd to what I'd seen on social media from earlier in the day, just people in masks with fireworks setting mattresses alight.

"I think all the bars and clubs are probably closed as a result so there's now a lot of people out on the street."

A spokesman for the Met Police told the Standard their officers were on the scene and were "continuing to monitor the situation".

The family of Rashan Charles also reiterated their plea for no violence.

In a statement which was recirculated, the family said: "We appreciate all support, but any hostile actions or other events, at this stage, that may risk detracting from our current co-operative engagement with the IPCC and Met Police is unwelcome."

It added: "We are speaking and meeting directly with the independent investigators, allowing reasonable time for meaningful progress".

Shadow Home Secretary and Hackney MP Diane Abbott told Mail Online: "The anger and upset at the death of Rashan Charles is understandable.

"But Rashan's family have explicitly spoken out against hostile actions. We must respect their wishes and any protests must be peaceful."

Earlier this week protesters brought traffic to a standstill at Stoke Newington police station at a #justiceforRash rally.

More than 150 people marched to the police station in fury after people said they had been left "concerned and angry" at the death of 20-year-old Mr Charles.

CCTV obtained by the Standard shows Mr Charles, known as Rash, putting his hand to his mouth as he runs into the shop, at around 1.45am.

The images then show him being grabbed by the officer who wrestles him to the floor, with the pair struggling for at least a minute.

Tributes were paid to "great father" Mr Charles, with friends leaving flowers and candles at the scene.

He was described as "a really good guy" who was "close to all his family and close to all his friends".

Merdan Uckac, 18, whose family run the barbers next to the shop where Mr Charles was detained, said: “My friend did not deserve to die like this.

“He was a great father and is well-known in the area. He was always coming into the barbers and chatting to us. He wouldn’t have ever hurt anyone, so that’s why we are all so upset.”

The IPCC said in a statement on Friday: "We understand the concerns raised following Rashan's death.

"We will independently examine the circumstances of this incident, we will follow the evidence, we will consider whether there is an indication there may have been misconduct or criminality, and we will seek to answer the questions that Rashan's family and the community of Hackney understandably have."

Mr Charles' father Esa will give a joint statement with Ginario Da Costa, the father of Edson Da Costa, outside Stoke Newington Police station on Saturday.

Mr Da Costa died on June 21, six days after he was detained by police during a traffic stop.

Campaigners claim Mr Da Costa's neck was broken and that he was "brutally beaten" after the car, containing three people, was halted in Woodcocks, Beckton.

His death is also being investigated by the IPCC, which has revealed an early pathology report shows he had "a number of packages in his throat" when he died.