76 arrested after protesters stage 'die-in' for Eric Garner in London

 By 
Blathnaid Healy
 on 
76 arrested after protesters stage 'die-in' for Eric Garner in London
Protestors stage a die in at the Westfield London shopping centre Credit: Areeb UI

UPDATED: 08:05 a.m. GMT

LONDON -- Up to 600 people protested in London Wednesday evening to show solidarity with U.S. demonstrators, following last week's grand jury decision not to indict a New York police officer in the chokehold killing of Eric Garner.

Protesters staged a die-in at the Westfield London shopping centre in Shepherd's Bush, London, with reports saying it was closed for some time.

Police arrested 76 people on suspicion of public order offences, according to a statement from the Metropolitan Police.

The event was largely peaceful, until a group of protestors broke away from a larger group and attempted to force entry to the shopping centre. They assaulted security staff and caused damage to property, the statement said.

"In response to this police used a number of tactics - including a containment for the purpose of preventing violence and effecting arrests."

Mashable Image
People demonstrate at White City Westfield Shopping Centre in London on December 10, 2014 during a protest following the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. and Eric Garner in New York. Credit: Tolga Akmen/Getty Images

There have been large protests in multiple U.S. cities over the past week, but this is the first demonstration to take place in the UK.

This is how the evening progressed:

Hundreds of protestors have staged another die in at the centre of Westfield London. #BlackLivesMatter #ferguson pic.twitter.com/9GNMhl6RBQ— Areeb Ul (@are_eb) December 10, 2014

#Blacklivesmatter #westfield LONDON pic.twitter.com/uwWPt97dp1— '92 (@iChrissiee) December 10, 2014

Protestors being blocked off my army of private security in Westfield #BlackLivesMatter #ericGarner pic.twitter.com/yTihAA7EJr— Areeb Ul (@are_eb) December 10, 2014

Protesters then moved outside the shopping centre to a nearby road and roundabout outside Shepherd's Bush. They merged with another group, increasing the crowd's size.

Protesters occupying the roundabout outside Shepherd's Bush #BlackLivesMatter #c4news https://t.co/uLKIwQlgx3— Harry Horton (@harry_horton) December 10, 2014

Protesters have moved on from occupying the roundabout. Heading around Shepherd's Bush station now. #c4news pic.twitter.com/dJKCnD7YJD— Harry Horton (@harry_horton) December 10, 2014

Even bigger crowd now gathered outside the shepherds bush empire pic.twitter.com/gmUdneJO3M— Wail Qasim (@WailQ) December 10, 2014

Police were present.

Line of police following protestors. #ferguson2ldn #blackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/XCFNuFuBFN— Areeb Ul (@are_eb) December 10, 2014

Protestors also staged another die-in, occupying the road.

Another 'die-in' occupying the road, but this time twice the size #BlackLivesMatter #c4news https://t.co/cvXG5ubSva— Harry Horton (@harry_horton) December 10, 2014

Channel 4 News interviewed one of the protesters, who explained why he was participating.

Protester Abdi Suleiman explains why he's here. #BlackLivesMatter #c4news https://t.co/7LfWVPRa5f— Harry Horton (@harry_horton) December 10, 2014

This story was updated to include the numbers of arrests.

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