This report from The Daily Mail (sorry) maybe offers a glimpse of the future. the BBC News channel is showing live coverage of what looks to be a growing riot in central London where the cops have just arrested Santa Claus. Like the Mail the BBC is trying to pin the blame on a small number of anarchists but not even Durrutti could have started a riot unless there was a more general fury.
The rapidity with which large numbers of young people have escalated their conflict with the state is staggering. The cops have started treating almost every anti-cuts protest as a potentially major public order operation with vans of tooled up riot squads skulking just out of site.
Winter 2011 looks like it’ll be a warm one.
Three police officers seriously injured in battle with mob of anarchists outside Parliament as MPs vote through the rise in student fees
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20,000 students and activists lay siege to Westminster
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Three officers seriously injured in scuffles with activists
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Protesters throw flares, smoke bombs and snooker balls
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Scotland Yard resort to ‘kettling’ in Parliament Square
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Increase is carried by 323 votes to 302 – majority of 21
Police officers were seriously injured today as mask-wearing anarchists hijacked the final tuition fees protest and turned yet another peaceful demonstration into chaos.
Around 20,000 students and activists descended on central London as the demonstrations of recent weeks culminated in a final show of anger at the hike and the Liberal Democrat U-turn.
Shortly before 6pm the policy to increase the fees cap to £9,000 was carried by 323 votes to 302 – a majority of 21.
Unrest continued after the vote and a Met spokesman said: ‘Extreme violence currently being directed towards officers is hindering attempts to allow non-violent protesters to leave the containment area.’
Protests, both peaceful and violent, took place throughout the day.
Three officers were wounded and had to be taken to hospital after clashes when a hardcore group of protesters repeatedly tried to break through police lines outside the Houses of Parliament earlier in the day.
Footage showed one policeman lying motionless on the ground. Medics fitted him with a neck brace and used a makeshift stretcher to remove him.
One mounted officer was knocked from his horse as missiles including flares, sticks, snooker balls and smoke bombs were hurled from the crowds across the cordon.
As MPs prepared to vote on the controversial fee rise earlier, Scotland Yard resorted to ‘kettling’ the demonstrators in Parliament Square in a bid to contain the violence.
A student was spotted urinating on the Winston Churchill statue, wooden benches were set alight and the grass was covered with a huge ‘No’ in bright red graffiti.
Protesters were forced to run back into the Square after mounted police charged at the crowds in a desperate bid to stop the surge. Seven have been arrested so far.
Teenager Sophie Down said: ‘The police were backing off and we were trying to work it what was happening and we didn’t know what was going on, then they all just started charging.
‘I’m worried about my friends. I saw a guy who was sitting on the ground and I could see something was wrong with him.
‘Everyone was in a good mood – it was like a carnival – but there are people who are clearly looking for a fight.’
Elsewhere, as protesters fanned out through Whitehall, a female student was caught climbing up the Cenotaph – the monument to Britain’s war dead – using the Union Jack flying there.
Landmarks: Police and protesters clash violently outside the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
No respect: A protester swinging from the Union Jack flag flying on the Cenotaph
Bloodied: Police medics carry away an injured protester
Vast crowds of protesters surged in to Parliament Square at around 2pm, trampling security barriers to get closer to the House of Commons and violence soon flared.
Police reinforcements had to be rushed in to bolster the ring of steel, with officers donning riot helmets and shields to protect themselves
They battled to keep the cordon in place to avoid any invasion of Parliament, as happened during the pro-hunting demonstration in 2004.
No trains were stopping at Westminster underground station tonight to avoid more people joining the crowds.
Liam redux 
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