Anti-Olympic protesters clash with police in Vancouver

Editor's note: This story was modified to correct the impression that all protesters were masked.

VANCOUVER — Anti-Olympic protesters clashed with police in Vancouver on Saturday, as the demonstrators smashed windows and spray-painted cars and buses.

More than 200 protesters, some of them masked, marched through the streets of downtown Vancouver, throwing objects at police officers and damaging cars and businesses, Vancouver police said.

The black-clad mob smashed the front windows of a Hudson’s Bay Company store. The company is the main retailer for Games merchandise.

Vancouver police said seven people were arrested, and that charges of mischief were pending.

Police said a bag with a hammer was recovered and that one suspect had a bicycle chain wrapped around his fist when he was arrested.

The rally was organized by the Olympics Resistance Network to protest capitalism and “aimed to disturb ‘business as unusual’ on the first day of the Games,” according to a news release.

Vancouver police spokeswoman Const. Jana McGuinness called the situation “pretty intense.”

Saturday’s protests followed a standoff Friday night between demonstrators and police.

Two officers were injured as protesters hurled debris, Vancouver police said.

After Friday’s opening ceremony, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell admonished protesters for escalating beyond a peaceful demonstration.

“I’m really disappointed there was violence and disrespect shown by protesters. I think all in Vancouver expect there will be peaceful protests and a few individuals crossed that line,” said Robertson.

“I’m very proud of the Vancouver Police Department’s performance. They handled the situation very well,” he added.

Campbell went further in his comments Friday night, saying while all people have a right to free speech, “There’s nothing that says we all have a right to attack.”

“The protesters are trying to attract attention to themselves. The protesters are trying to frighten people,” he said.

“Now is a time for celebration. Now is a time to try and lift Canada up,” he added.

“And frankly, I think the protesters are self-centered and selfish and in many cases cowardly.”

Canwest News Service and Vancouver Sun