London police braced for more violence today; 1 dead

Prasun Sonwalkar

London, Apr 2 (PTI) As world leaders get down to business
at the G-20 summit Thursday, police here are bracing
themselves for more violence after demonstrations left one
person dead and saw a mob storming a branch of the Royal Bank
of Scotland.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President
Barack Obama are among leaders attending the summit that is
expected to resolve the worst global economic crisis since the
1930s.

There were over 80 arrests during Wednesday's protests,
including four for violent disorder, six public order offences
and 11 for possessing police uniform.

A network of campaign groups has organised a series of
protests to highlight causes ranging from job cuts, recession,
climate change and the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

One person died Wednesday after he collapsed during
demonstrations near the Bank of England. A protester called
the police after he saw the man collapse and stop breathing.

Two police medics broke through the cordon and carried
the man to a clear area.

The ambulance arrived six minutes later and took him to
hospital just before 8pm, where he was pronounced dead. It is
believed that the man died of a heart attack.

"We received a 999 (emergency) call at 7:24 pm (1824 GMT)
from a member of the public reporting that a man had fallen
over and was unconscious, but was breathing," said the London
Ambulance Service.

"At 7:30 pm we were informed by the police that a man at
the location had stopped breathing."

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The officers took the
decision to move him as during this time a number of missiles
- believed to be bottles - were being thrown at them".

Thursday, demonstrations are scheduled at the Stock
Exchange, but the main focus will be the ExCeL Centre, where
the summit meeting will be held.

Commander Simon O'Brien of the Metropolitan Police warned
that there may be more clashes between officers and
demonstrators Thursday. PTI