
Demonstrators have started looting churches in Chile as the long-running protests continue.

Thousands of people had gathered near the site in Santiago's Plaza Italia that has been used for three weeks as the main site of the mass protests.

The crowd chanted, carried banners and waved Chilean national flags as others flashed the lights on their mobile phones.

But a short time later the protests escalated as a large group of hooded protestors began to loot a church in the area known as the La Asuncion and removed almost all of the iconography inside. Pictured: Two demonstrators run through the streets with a statue of a priest

Protestors dragged church pews, statues of Jesus and other religious iconography out through the doors of the historic building before defacing it

Thousands of people had gathered near the site in Santiago's Plaza Italia that has been used for three weeks as the main site of mass protests. The crowd chanted, carried banners and waved Chilean national flags as others flashed the lights on their mobile phones

A proposed increase in the price of metro fares sparked a series of anti-government protests that have left at least 20 people dead. Pictured: A man breaks up concrete during the clashes

A demonstrator wearing a gas mask takes refuge during the attacks. Rocks and other debris can be seen on the streets

A man wearing a gas mask fires a slingshot during the demonstrations. The protestors' demands include improvements in the quality of healthcare

A demonstrator holds a can spewing coloured smoke during a protest against Chile's government in Santiago, Chile

But a short time later the protests escalated as a large group of hooded protestors dressed in black began to loot a church in the area known as La Asuncion.

They were photographed dragging church pews, statues of Jesus, religious canvasses and other iconography out through the doors of the historic building before setting much of it on fire.

Smoke was also seen billowing from the nearby headquarters of Pedro de Valdivia University, although it is not known if the protestors had also ignited that blaze as authorities said they are still investigating the cause.

Demonstrators throw stones at a police station during a protest outside the Baquedano metro station on November 8 in Santiago, Chile

A man sits on a park bench during an anti-government protest at the central Plaza Italia. Demonstrators set fire to objects in the streets in the violent clashes

The church was left completely stripped bare as the group worked together to pass the larger objects out of the doors, including a canvas of the Virgin Mary holding a baby Jesus (pictured)

Many of the demonstrations over the past 22 days have been peaceful but now it seems that they are becoming increasingly violent. Pictured: Two protestors remove a piano from the church

Many of the religious adornments that were dragged out of the church were then set on fire. Pictured: A church pew engulfed in flames in the middle of the Chilean streets

Many of the demonstrations over the past 22 days started out relatively peaceful but now it seems that they are becoming increasingly violent.

Rock-throwing demonstrators clashed with riot police a short time after the church was looted as the authorities responded with tear gas and water cannons.

The unrest began last month over a subway fare hike that prompted students to start jumping turnstiles in protest which gradually escalated and spread nationwide with a broad range of demands.

The demands included improvements in education, health care and a widely criticised pension system in one of Latin America's richest but most socially unequal countries.

'Lucha' is written on some of the protestor's barricades. The Spanish word translates to 'fight' in English

Rock-throwing demonstrators clashed with riot police a short time after the church was looted as one demonstrator uses a slingshot against the authorities (pictured)

Riot police responded by deploying tear gas and water cannons (pictured) to blast the crowds of protestors who attempted to defend themselves using sheets of corrugated iron and covering their faces

The long-running protests have left at least 20 dead and a further 2,500 injured as well as forcing the cancellation of two major international summits in Santiago. Pictured: Demonstrators threw Molotov cocktails toward police

A 17-year-old student, Ginette Perez, who joined the crowds who flooded the streets this week, said: 'We still haven't achieved anything, so we're going to keep protesting.'

Chile's president, Sebastian Pinera, announced measures earlier this week to increase security and toughen sanctions for vandalism following the long-running protests that have left at least 20 dead.

A further 2,500 people are estimated to have been injured in the protests which have also forced the cancellation of two major international summits in Santiago.

Mr Pinera is expected to reshuffle his cabinet and announce a raise in the minimum salary.

The demands included improvements in education, health care and a widely criticised pension system in one of Latin America's richest but most socially unequal countries. Pictured: A protestor covers his face with a gas mask as he throws a smoke bomb at the riot police

Chile's president, Sebastian Pinera, announced measures earlier this week to increase security and toughen sanctions for vandalism. Pictured: Demonstrators cover themselves from the riot police in Santiago as fires rage on the streets