Danish police battles protesting youths' group

Copenhagen, March 3: Danish police fought night battles today with groups of youths who had set fire to cars during protests over the eviction of squatters from a Copenhagen youth centre.

Police said that least 100 people were detained when an illegal but peaceful demonstration and a street party with live music in the multi-ethnic, working class Norrebro neighbourhood turned into clashes after midnight in St Hans Square. At least one person was injured and taken to hospital.

''Some 100 people were taken into custody so far,'' said Copenhagen Police Spokesman Flemming Steen Munch.

Witnesses said police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, who fought back with Molotov cocktails and stones.

Television footage showed cars, including at least one police vehicle, on fire. A local school was also trashed by demonstrators.

Local news agency Ritzau also reported that six or seven fires were seen around Norrebro, and also one near Christiania in the early morning today.

Police had been expecting more unrest yesterday night after more than 200 people were arrested the night before during protests sparked by the eviction of the squatters from the youth centre in an early morning raid. Two police officers and two demonstrators were hurt in clashes on Thursday.

Activists have vowed to keep up the protests to retake control of the youth centre, which the local government had sold to a religious group in 2000. They said more protests were planned later today's.

Witnesses said today's violence began when some youths at the demonstration started digging up cobblestones and mask their faces.

Police vans entered the square and clashed with youths, who threw Molotov cocktails at the police. Witnesses said police responded with tear gas and chased demonstrators through the streets.

The demonstrations came despite warnings issued earlier on Friday by Minister of justice Lena Espersen who also praised the way police handled Thursday's protests.

''The police's work meant that luckily very few people were hurt,'' she said in a statement.

The youths have repeatedly called for a political solution to the dispute over the youth centre but rejected a proposal to move to another building.

Jan, a spokesman for the youth centre, said activists planned to disrupt traffic on Saturday, with ''pin-point actions creating short breakdowns and disruptions. For example, having a dinner party in the street''.

''The struggle will continue for a long time. As long as there is no Youth House in Copenhagen, there will be a fight to get one,'' he said.

Reuters