Nearly 200 anarchists still being held following London violence By By Kev Hedges Mar 27, 2011 in Politics London - Police in London made over 200 arrests on Saturday night into Sunday morning as a large group of masked antagonists broke away from the largely peaceful, TUC-organised march in London on Saturday and vandalised property belonging to corporate businesses. A small group of anarchists, sporting scarves and masks concealing their faces, had infiltrated the march and splintered off towards London's West End causing damage to businesses and shops regarded as holding a corporate image. Banks, chain stores and some companies, accused by UK Uncut, to be evading tax were targeted, with protesters smashing windows and daubing paint on the walls. Some of those targeted were HSBC Bank, Santander bank, Top Shop, British Home Stores (BHS) and John Lewis. Police were pelted with ammonia and fireworks loaded with coins. The Met police said 31 officers were injured. The main flashpoints were in Oxford Street, Piccadilly and Trafalgar Square. The The trouble started as Ed Miliband, the opposition party Labour leader, addressed a TUC and UK Uncut rally of at least 250,000 peaceful protesters in Hyde Park. The march had begun in Westminster, reports the Several banks were broken into and daubed with paint and slogans like, "Stop the Tory Cuts", "Smash the Banks!" and "Banks are the Cause of This!" Mr Miliband condemned the violence saying, "I unequivocally condemn those who have committed acts of violence. There is no excuse for it. It is unlawful and wrong". The TUC have said they "bitterly regret" the violence but insisted the march was important. Despite the huge turn-out and high profile on this demonstration the government has no intention of making an U-turn where the cuts are concerned. Business Secretary Vince Cable said the government is not about to alter its policy because of a TUC March, "Certainly we're listening. I talk regularly to the trade union movement, I think it's important we have a dialogue with them but we're not going to change the basic economic strategy. No government - coalition, Labour or other - would change its fundamental economic policy simply in response to a demonstration of that kind". In the last few hours UK Uncut has alleged that many of those arrested were from its organisation. They have asked the Met Police on The march organised by UK Uncut and the Trades Union Council (TUC) was attended by nearly 300,000. Many of the protesters marched peacefully through London and into Hyde Park. There were families, fancy dress, musicians and speakers as the largest demonstration in London since the anti-war in Iraq lobby marched in the winter of 2003. The march had protested against the coalition governments' austerity measures which they believe are too damaging and severe.A small group of anarchists, sporting scarves and masks concealing their faces, had infiltrated the march and splintered off towards London's West End causing damage to businesses and shops regarded as holding a corporate image. Banks, chain stores and some companies, accused by UK Uncut, to be evading tax were targeted, with protesters smashing windows and daubing paint on the walls. Some of those targeted were HSBC Bank, Santander bank, Top Shop, British Home Stores (BHS) and John Lewis.Police were pelted with ammonia and fireworks loaded with coins. The Met police said 31 officers were injured. The main flashpoints were in Oxford Street, Piccadilly and Trafalgar Square. The BBC reports that Metropolitan Police had detained 201 people during Saturday, and 199 of those were still being held in various London police stations on Sunday evening.The trouble started as Ed Miliband, the opposition party Labour leader, addressed a TUC and UK Uncut rally of at least 250,000 peaceful protesters in Hyde Park. The march had begun in Westminster, reports the Telegraph Several banks were broken into and daubed with paint and slogans like, "Stop the Tory Cuts", "Smash the Banks!" and "Banks are the Cause of This!"Mr Miliband condemned the violence saying, "I unequivocally condemn those who have committed acts of violence. There is no excuse for it. It is unlawful and wrong".The TUC have said they "bitterly regret" the violence but insisted the march was important.Despite the huge turn-out and high profile on this demonstration the government has no intention of making an U-turn where the cuts are concerned. Business Secretary Vince Cable said the government is not about to alter its policy because of a TUC March, "Certainly we're listening. I talk regularly to the trade union movement, I think it's important we have a dialogue with them but we're not going to change the basic economic strategy. No government - coalition, Labour or other - would change its fundamental economic policy simply in response to a demonstration of that kind".In the last few hours UK Uncut has alleged that many of those arrested were from its organisation. They have asked the Met Police on Twitter , "Why have u arrested and detained members of @UKuncut en mass 4 peaceful protest? Have u had political orders 2 target them?" More about TUC March, UK Uncut rally, Cuts, London protest More news from TUC March UK Uncut rally Cuts London protest