The Five Demands

Anti-G8 protests in Belfast on Saturday (News Letter)

Two protests against the G8 Summit are planned for Belfast on Saturday, just a day before many of the world leaders arrive in Northern Ireland for the political event.

The Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions is asking people to attend the “peaceful, dignified and yet loud and boisterous march and rally” in the city centre at lunchtime.

A second separate protest is planned for Botanic Gardens on Saturday.

Thousands of security officers will be on patrol in Northern Ireland over the next week in anticipation of protests against the G8.

Sixteen judges have been put on rota to preside over potential all day special court sittings to deal with arrested protesters, authorities have revealed.

Extra magistrates are on stand-by if the eight courts dedicated to G8-related disorder charges – located at three sites across Northern Ireland – are unable to cope with the volume of cases coming before them.

Riot police storm Soho G8 protest squat (BBC News London)

Riot police have forced their way into a building in Soho, central London, as protests were staged against the G8 summit.

From about 10:00 BST more than 100 officers were outside a reported squat in Beak Street occupied by protesters.

Thirty two arrests have been made and small demonstrations have taken place in Oxford Street and Regent Street.

The StopG8 group planned a “Carnival Against Capitalism” ahead of the summit in Northern Ireland next week.

The Met said protesters wanted a “Week of Action”.

Roof jump thwarted
Officers went to Beak Street with a search warrant because they said they had a tip-off people there had weapons and were intent on causing criminal damage.

They claimed intelligence pointed to a plan to use paint bombs.

One man had to be tackled by police as he tried to jump from the roof of the Beak Street building saying “I don’t want to live in a fascist state”, reported Mike Sergeant.

The arrests were made for alleged possession of an offensive weapon, criminal damage, assault on a police officer, failure to remove a face covering, and possession of articles with intent to commit criminal damage.

StopG8 said many of the world’s “most brutal and polluting companies” were in the West End, as well as government offices and the “mega rich”.

The Met said officers had been working with the City of London Police and British Transport Police and warning businesses in central London and The City about possible protests.

The leaders of the world’s eight wealthiest countries are due to meet at the Lough Erne resort in Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, for the two-day G8 conference next week.