Olympic torch parade disrupted by protest
Sunday, 06 Apr 2008 12:13
Olympic torch arrives in London
The Olympic torch has finished the London leg of its global relay, amid protests and bad weather in the capital.
A reported 35 arrests were made over the 31-mile route as the Olympic torch made its way through London, police have said.
Anti-China protestors tried to put out the Olympic flame with a fire extinguisher and a man attempted to grab the torch from former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq as she carried the flame through west London.
But Ms Huq held onto the torch and carried on the relay.
The police presence surrounding the runners as the torch was carried through the city was significantly stepped up following the incidents.
Security concerns grew as protestors repeatedly attempted to reach the flame and several were wrestled to the ground.
Eventually, as the relay reached Fleet Street, police changed the schedule and bundled the torch bearer onto a bus - swapping the foot procession for a bus ride - confusing crowds who had expected to see the flame carried past St Pauls cathedral.
However, there were no problems when the flame reached Downing Street, where it was greeted by the prime minister, Gordon Brown, as security was extremely tight.
Champion rower Sir Steve Redgrave started the Olympic torch relay, taking it out of Wembley stadium this morning, and the procession has now ended at the O2 Arena in Greenwich.
The torch will leave tomorrow for Paris.
The torch was lit in Olympia, Greece, last week and came to London via St Petersburg. It will pass through 20 countries before ending its journey in Beijing for the opening ceremony of the games, on August 8th.