Scotland Yard says three police officers were taken to hospital, including one thrown from his horse outside Buckingham Palace

A Scotland Yard commander has described how police officers came under attack as the Million Mask march in central London descended into a “completely unacceptable” night of violence.

Cdr Ben-Julian Harrington, the officer in charge of policing protests in London, vowed to bring to justice the dozens of activists arrested for offences, including two for assaulting police officers.

He said: “Officers have been hospitalised, a police horse suffered injuries and a police car was criminally damaged during the course of the protest, which is completely unacceptable.

“I praise the professionalism and restraint that officers have shown in the face of hostile provocation and enabled the policing operation to pass without major incidents. We will bring those responsible for the criminality to face justice.”

Scotland Yard said three police officers were taken to hospital, including one who was thrown from his horse in chaotic scenes outside Buckingham Palace.

At least 50 protesters were arrested on Thursday night, the majority for public order offences after breaching police containments – also known as “kettling” – in St Martin’s Place, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall after the march was due to end at 9pm.

The Scotland Yard statement came as footage emerged of a photographer being run over by a white Aston Martin after the car was surrounded by masked protesters.

Phil Caller (@Phil_Caller) Video: Sports car knocks over & injuries protester on #MillionMaskMarch after being surrounded by breakaway group pic.twitter.com/fFOVrueQg8

What started off as a peaceful protest descended into violence when activists clashed with officers. A police car was set alight and its windscreen smashed near Green Park as thousands of anti-capitalist demonstrators marched past the capital’s landmarks wearing the trademark Guy Fawkes masks of the Anonymous hacking group.

Scotland Yard said a small number of people were involved in setting alight a police car on Queen Anne’s Gate, near the Ministry of Justice, shortly before 8pm. No officers were injured and an investigation into the incident continues, the force said.

Charlotte Wright (@Chilli_Wright) Someone set a police car on fire. Officer putting it out now. #MillionMaskMarch @LBC pic.twitter.com/kyA9tZv8Km

Harrington added: “We facilitate hundreds of protests every year in London peacefully and with the cooperation of the organisers. On this occasion a group of protesters chose not to engage with police or adhere to the conditions of the protest and were intent on criminality.

“I’d like to thank those who conducted themselves in a peaceful manner and as well as Londoners for their patience and tolerance whilst antisocial and intimidating behaviour was happening.”

Out of the 50 arrests, at least 27 protesters were held for public order offences and two for assaulting police officers, Scotland Yard said. Three men were arrested before the march began after a police search turned up knives, smoke and paint grenades, gas canisters and lock picks. The three men, aged 38, 55 and 50, were held at a central London police station on suspicion of being in possession of offensive weapons.

There was a sudden surge of activity about half an hour into the event, as several protesters at the front of the demonstration broke off and ran towards the Churchill War Rooms. More crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace, away from the agreed route.



Some tried to enter Great George Street, a short distance from Conservative party headquarters, which was closed off. A line of police and mounted officers formed a barrier against the densely packed protesters. Stray bottles were thrown over the barriers towards officers to cheers and chants of: “Shame on you, we’re human too.”

The Met deployed what it described as a “significant policing operation”, including drafting in thousands of extra officers to tackle expected unrest, after previous events ended in arrests and clashes with police across the centre of the capital.

In Trafalgar Square at 6.40pm, sirens could be heard from almost all directions. The area was ringed by dozens of police in riot vans, their visored helmets strapped to their overalls. On the wall of the National Gallery was a message telling people that they might be asked to remove their face coverings. “Failure to comply is an offence,” it said ominously.

Damien Gayle (@damiengayle) A warning is being broadcast on the side of the national gallery with a laser #MillionMaskMarch pic.twitter.com/DcVWTqn2ip

One protester, a musician who gave her name as Lola, said she had travelled from Hull to the capital to speak up for others. She said: “There are people who aren’t represented, they should be here. I am the people. We are peaceful, we are doing this in a peaceful manner, but the media focus on the 1% who cause trouble.”

Another self-proclaimed anarchist, Aztecarna Peatonito from Mexico, said he wanted a peaceful way of spreading a message against inequality. “We tried for six years to get the press to take us seriously. It is only when we wore the masks that we started getting attention. Anyone who is violent is not with us,” he said.