Clashes bring traffic to a halt in Copenhagen

Clashes occurred in the Christianshavn area of Copenhagen on the night of 28 October 2008 in response to the eviction of residents from the first floor of a building that is set to be demolished near Christiania, a squatters’ colony in the city. A group of approximately 300 residents and sympathisers marched to the Palaces and Properties Agency earlier in the day; violence broke out when police officers attempted to block the action, with protesters throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails and police officers responding with tear gas. Traffic came to a halt along roads and bridges in the area, and protesters set barricades made of benches and trashcans on fire in the Christiania enclave. A total of 18 demonstrators were arrested, while two police officers were injured.