More than 200 people were arrested in Oakland, California, after the worst clash for months between Occupy Wall Street protesters and riot police.

Police fired tear gas and non-lethal flash grenades and waded into the 1,000-strong crowd with batons to try to quell the demonstrators. At least three police officers and a demonstrator were injured. The clash brings the Occupy movement back into the public eye after their camps were cleared by police from city centres late last year. Protesters have been turning up to disrupt Republican primary campaign events but these have been relatively low-key.

The Oakland police were accused of over-reaction when they razed an Occupy camp last year. The renewed violence came after Occupy protesters on Saturday attempted to take over a disused convention centre to create a headquarters for the movement in Oakland and draw attention to the plight of the homeless.

The city authorities issued a statement saying about 200 people had been arrested. The council said protesters broke into city hall and burned an American flag.

The mayor, Jean Quan, blamed the protesters: "Once again, a violent splinter group of the Occupy movement is engaging in violent actions against Oakland. The Bay Area Occupy Movement has got to stop using Oakland as their playground."

The police, in a statement, said: "Officers were pelted with bottles, metal pipe, rocks, spray cans, improvised explosive devices and burning flares. Oakland police department deployed smoke and tear gas."

It said: "The city of Oakland welcomes peaceful assembly and freedom of speech but acts of violence, property destruction and overnight lodging will not be tolerated."

The Occupy movement has managed to hang on to camps in Washington, a few blocks from the White House. The National park service said the camps, in the middle of two city squares, are to be removed from Monday.