Smashed Windows, Graffiti, Splattered Paint: Massive Clean Up Effort in London After Night of Violent Mayhem

• Anarchists occupied Trafalgar Square late into the night, some throwing missiles
• After a night of smashing banks and hotels--and attacking police--over 200 hooligans arrested
• 84 reported injuries. 31 police officers hurt, 11 requiring hospital treatment
• Massive clean up effort underway

A night of mayhem descended on the streets of London yesterday, after hundreds of anarchists and anti-capitalists stormed the streets, overtaking Trafalgar square. Some of the protesters even threw missiles from the square.

Now, a massive clean up effort is underway.

Yesterday, after paint and flares were thrown at buildings, after windows were smashed, and after anti-government messages were scribbled all over the pavement and famous icons, the city was left in disarray this morning.

Sky News reports on the daunting clean-up effort:

The windows and doors of banks were smashed and paint was daubed in the walls.

Anarchist symbols and anti-Government messages were also scrawled on the pavement.

By early on Sunday graffiti was being jet-washed from the front of the luxury food store Fortnum and Mason, where protestors had broken in and staged a demonstration.

Nearly all of the windows were smashed at the Ritz Hotel and the famous sign at the front was splattered in yellow paint. Staff were helping to clean windows and scrub floors.

The Daily Mail reports that several banks were also vandalized:

Paint, fireworks and flares were thrown at buildings, while the outnumbered police were attacked with large pieces of wood.

Branches of HSBC, RBS, Santander and Topshop were among those to have their windows smashed.

The police often had to step aside as the activists continued their destruction late into the evening.

According to the report below, the anarchists also attacked the offices of the police: