LONDON — A quarter-million mostly peaceful demonstrators marched through central London on Saturday against the toughest cuts to public spending since World War II, with some small breakaway groups smashing windows at banks and shops and spray- painting logos on the walls.
Another group of black-clad protesters hurled paint bombs and ammonia-filled light bulbs at police.
Organizers of the March for the Alternative said people from across the country were peacefully joining in the demonstration, the biggest protest in London since rallies against the Iraq war in 2003.
Cmdr. Bob Broadhurst of the Metropolitan Police confirmed that more than 250,000 people had marched peacefully, but he said about 500 had caused trouble in London’s main shopping streets.
He said nine people had been arrested for public disorder and criminal damage. Police said 28 people had been injured during the demonstration, and seven were admitted to hospitals for a range of problems, including shortness of breath and a suspected hip fracture.
Five police officers also were injured, and one of those had to be treated in a hospital for a groin injury.
The protests otherwise had a carnival feel. Schoolteachers, nurses and students all marched through central London and rallied in Hyde Park, one of London’s biggest public gardens, with banners, balloons and whistles.
Britain is facing $130 billion of public spending cuts from Prime Minister David Cameron’s coalition government as it struggles to get the country’s large budget deficit under control. The government has already raised a sales tax, but Britons are bracing for big cuts to public spending.
After the country spent billions bailing out indebted banks and suffered a squeeze on tax revenue and an increase in welfare bills, Treasury chief George Osborne has staked the coalition government’s future on tough economic remedies.
Numbers
$130 billion Size of public-spending cuts that Britain is facing
Half-million Public-sector jobs expected to be lost
$28.5 billion Amount to be axed from welfare payments
66 years Suggested retirement age by 2020
