Climate activists condemn Copenhagen police tactics

Source: BBC

Climate change groups have criticised Danish police for using heavy-handed tactics after they detained 968 people at a rally near the Copenhagen summit. Mel Evans from Climate Justice Action told the BBC protesters were held for hours in freezing conditions without medical attention, water or toilets.

Meanwhile, ministers have started arriving to join other delegates at the Bella Centre for the UN summit, which runs for another week. Documents prepared by leaders of the conference call on developed nations to cut greenhouse gas emissions by between 25% and 45% of 1990 levels by 2020.

Police said about 30,000 people took part in Saturday's demonstration in the Danish capital, although organisers put the number at 100,000. Many chanted and carried banners reading "Demand climate justice", "The world wants a read deal" and "There is no Planet B".

The World Development Movement's director, Deborah Doane, condemned the authorities for what she said was a "complete violation of the right to protest and a step towards the breakdown of democracy". In a statement, Copenhagen police said a large group of protesters had organised themselves in a so-called "black bloc", in which they put on masks - an illegal action at a demonstration in Denmark. Officers then decided to "seal off" the group from the march.



Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8410414.stm

"Copenhagen police said a large group of protesters had organized themselves in a so-called "black bloc", in which they put on masks - an illegal action at a demonstration in Denmark."

Illegal to wear masks?

still have horns on their helmets?