With the G8 blockade now underway we will be adding whatever news we get her. Please add your own as well
The A9 blocked off but maybe someone should tell the cops posing for their picture in front of the van they are meant to be clearing it - not blocking it. From indymedia.uk
7.25 GMT
SkY News showing pictures of confrontations on the roads leading to the G8 and in one of the nearby towns. Fighting going on between protesters and riot police with riot police using vans, batons and pepper spray and protesters with sticks and missles.
Protesters have broken into a number of quite small groups in order to block these roads and delay the arrivial of the G8 support staff at Gleneagles.
Trouble flared when protesters moved from the eco-camp
Protesters and police are involved in stand-offs in Stirling as the G8 summit at Gleneagles gets under way.
Central Scotland Police say trouble flared after people began moving from an eco-campsite near Stirling towards the Gleneagles area.
Eyewitness Mark Wallace said there was "a major battle".
The centre of Stirling has been closed, as has the M9 at the Granada services after it was blocked by protesters. Police are warning of travel problems.
The M9 is the main route from Edinburgh to Gleneagles. Protesters had promised to block all roads leading to the summit venue.
Two people were arrested following clashes as police officers were attacked with missiles.
In Stirling you would see the same kind of stand-off position that we saw in Edinburgh on Monday Peter Wilson Chief constable
In a statement, the force said: "There have been isolated incidents of violence in which police officers have come under attack from a minority element.
"Some missiles have been thrown at officers and two people have been arrested for violent behaviour.
"The movement from the camp is causing considerable disruption around the Stirling area. The disruption is likely to last throughout the day."
BBC News reporting that there are also large number of non violent protests going on with blockades of the roads. Some as close as nearest town Autherader (sp?). Footage shows protesters charging onto roads and sitting in lines across them. Other footage show barricade being built
Sterling train station also reported closed
Footage showed quite a number of arrests in progress and lines of riot police on residential estates.
Traffic in and out of Crieff has been brought to a standstill early this morning by a group of people protesting about the G8 summit in Gleneagles. A group of people blocked the bridge over the river Earn on the main exit road to the south of Crieff, the A822, by locking themselves onto a piece of heavy metal in the middle of the road.
Leaflets are being given to motorists disrupted by the action to explain the motives being this blockade. The aim of blocking the road at this point is to prevent American delegates to the G8, understood to be staying in accommodation in Crieff, from getting to Gleneagles.
Duncan Locke, a self-employed carpenter from the South of England said, “The G8 is an elite club intent on pursuing their agenda of free trade capitalism across the world, at the expense of people, environment or justice. We took this action to try to send a message of hope to the rest of the world that this situation will no longer go unchallenged. We are sorry to be adding to the disruption to local people caused by the G8. However, the issues we are highlighting are of such fundamental importance globally that we felt honour-bound to take action.”
The first vehicle stopped by the road block was a delegation headed for the summit. Other drivers have been sympathetic to the protesters. One lorry driver commented that the trade liberalization being rolled out by the G8 leaders has led to the situation where foreign workers now do jobs for £3 an hour that local people used to get paid £7 an hour to do.
The action was visited by some Critical Mass cyclists and some people dressed as fairies too!
7:05 - Stirling and Dumblane junctions of M9 closed both directions. About 30 people blocking the A9 ca. 5 miles before Gleneagles A9 exit but left again after blockading for short time.
7:00: 50 people waiting at Stirling train station. No apparent train traffic at the moment.
6:50: At Ladart (or so) people have climbed on train carriages on the train to gleneagles. the train is stopped.
6:30: In Stirling, roads to the campsite are closed by cops, who tell people who want to go there (including journalists) that the camp would be closed. The camp is NOT closed.
Update 6:00: 200 people blockading junction 9 of M9 motorway. They are part of the larger group that left the Rural Convergence Camp this morning. Reports of very violent clashes with the cops.
Update 4:30: Large group 6-700 maybe 1000 left rural campsite in three groups - heading for a designated blockade point. Three groups met by police riot police charged back down to main roudnabout (3rd main roundabuot by industrial park). People pushed back into industrial estate next to camp 130-150 riot police and 30-50 yellow jackets . People tried to bypass by going through undergrowth. Police saw this and started thrashing through bushes. Reports of two people beaten (not defined what beaten is). After industrial estate - one roundabout into by morrisons - grass verge 150 of people came back to camp otherr 700 approc went up grass verge and walked back towards designated site.
"The M9, the main route from Edinburgh to Gleneagles, remains blocked at Stirling.
Protests are continuing around Stirling and in other parts of Perthshire as activists attempt to carry out their objective of closing roads and rail links serving the summit venue."
[10.36 am this morning] Very dispersed and chaotic, lots and lots of arrests.
by dissenter via sms Wednesday, Jul 6 2005, 11:33am
Moving with pagans and clowns - gonna try an action at the fence. Not as imposing as we were led to believe. Long sections thinly policed.
by Cian - WSM (Personal Capacity)Wed Jul 06, 2005 21:18
From BBC news
1240: Tayside Police reverse their decision to cancel a protest march by G8 Alternatives in Auchterarder. The group's Gill Hubbard welcomes the decision.
Around 200 people have broken off march and scaled wall to reach fence around Gleneagles. Elsewere I've seen it reported that the cops are six deep on the other side.
Lots of protesters have broken away from march and gone to fence. Police horses ready on other side.
Police chief "Disturbing to see that there has been this breakaway at this time ... More than 50 arrests today ... 10,600 police officers supporting the effort this week"
Stopped, standoff at front . . . This is really dangerous now
by dissenter via sms 4:10pm
Thousands of people hemmed in on a narrow residential road. Won't let the march go forward.. We won't return to a park after the day we've been through
Riot police pouring through fence "hardcore looking for trouble and will get trouble" "Can see dozens and dozens of figures scurying around police vans as well"
Police horses now charging fence - reporter can't see if fence has been breached but sounds like it. World bosses have been flown in over their heads and so are around 500m away.
"One or two climbed trees close to the security fence.
They then began to move along the fence and gathered at a temporary police watchtower.
Some of the protesters began throwing missiles at the police, who responded by bringing up dogs.
Reinforcements were dropped into the area by Chinook helicopters and at the outer cordon, through which protesters had passed, officers in reflective jackets and caps were replaced by colleagues in riot gear."
"Getting less pleasant here - missiles are being thrown"
"A few hundred are intent on causing trouble ... Stewards are doing their best to keep the crowd moving ... hundreds upon hundreds still in that field in front of me ... march just seems to have stopped .. can see a lot of shields and a lot of helmets around the corner .. another Chinnok (helicoper) is landing with more police re enforcements ..."
Riot police formed shield wall and pushing people out of field.
"Police are suddenly going in with real force and real speed ... doing so in real numbers and with great force .. re enforcements still arriving in Chinnok with police and dogs"
make this your Anarkismo.net front page
Thursday July 07, 2005 04:42
by Andrew - Anrkismo.net
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Comments (29 of 29)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29BBC Radio4 reporting significant fighting inSterling town as protesters try to get past the police road blocs erected last night.
GMTV reporting police trying to re-open roads and worried there may be an attempt to shut rail line
Stirling 'cut off' by G8 protest
Trouble flared when protesters moved from the eco-camp Protesters and police are involved in stand-offs in Stirling as the G8 summit at Gleneagles gets under way. Central Scotland Police say trouble flared after people began moving from an eco-campsite near Stirling towards the Gleneagles area.
Eyewitness Mark Wallace said there was "a major battle".
The centre of Stirling has been closed, as has the M9 at the Granada services after it was blocked by protesters. Police are warning of travel problems.
The M9 is the main route from Edinburgh to Gleneagles. Protesters had promised to block all roads leading to the summit venue.
Two people were arrested following clashes as police officers were attacked with missiles.
In Stirling you would see the same kind of stand-off position that we saw in Edinburgh on Monday Peter Wilson Chief constable
In a statement, the force said: "There have been isolated incidents of violence in which police officers have come under attack from a minority element.
"Some missiles have been thrown at officers and two people have been arrested for violent behaviour.
"The movement from the camp is causing considerable disruption around the Stirling area. The disruption is likely to last throughout the day."
BBC News reporting that there are also large number of non violent protests going on with blockades of the roads. Some as close as nearest town Autherader (sp?). Footage shows protesters charging onto roads and sitting in lines across them. Other footage show barricade being built
Sterling train station also reported closed
Footage showed quite a number of arrests in progress and lines of riot police on residential estates.
Anti G8 Protesters block bridge in Crieff
Traffic in and out of Crieff has been brought to a standstill early this morning by a group of people protesting about the G8 summit in Gleneagles. A group of people blocked the bridge over the river Earn on the main exit road to the south of Crieff, the A822, by locking themselves onto a piece of heavy metal in the middle of the road.
Leaflets are being given to motorists disrupted by the action to explain the motives being this blockade. The aim of blocking the road at this point is to prevent American delegates to the G8, understood to be staying in accommodation in Crieff, from getting to Gleneagles. Duncan Locke, a self-employed carpenter from the South of England said, “The G8 is an elite club intent on pursuing their agenda of free trade capitalism across the world, at the expense of people, environment or justice. We took this action to try to send a message of hope to the rest of the world that this situation will no longer go unchallenged. We are sorry to be adding to the disruption to local people caused by the G8. However, the issues we are highlighting are of such fundamental importance globally that we felt honour-bound to take action.”
The first vehicle stopped by the road block was a delegation headed for the summit. Other drivers have been sympathetic to the protesters. One lorry driver commented that the trade liberalization being rolled out by the G8 leaders has led to the situation where foreign workers now do jobs for £3 an hour that local people used to get paid £7 an hour to do.
The action was visited by some Critical Mass cyclists and some people dressed as fairies too!
Photos coming soon!
Ends
7:05 - Stirling and Dumblane junctions of M9 closed both directions. About 30 people blocking the A9 ca. 5 miles before Gleneagles A9 exit but left again after blockading for short time.
7:00: 50 people waiting at Stirling train station. No apparent train traffic at the moment.
6:50: At Ladart (or so) people have climbed on train carriages on the train to gleneagles. the train is stopped.
6:30: In Stirling, roads to the campsite are closed by cops, who tell people who want to go there (including journalists) that the camp would be closed. The camp is NOT closed.
Update 6:00: 200 people blockading junction 9 of M9 motorway. They are part of the larger group that left the Rural Convergence Camp this morning. Reports of very violent clashes with the cops.
Update 4:30: Large group 6-700 maybe 1000 left rural campsite in three groups - heading for a designated blockade point. Three groups met by police riot police charged back down to main roudnabout (3rd main roundabuot by industrial park). People pushed back into industrial estate next to camp 130-150 riot police and 30-50 yellow jackets . People tried to bypass by going through undergrowth. Police saw this and started thrashing through bushes. Reports of two people beaten (not defined what beaten is). After industrial estate - one roundabout into by morrisons - grass verge 150 of people came back to camp otherr 700 approc went up grass verge and walked back towards designated site.
For updates to this see
"Serious incidents in Stirling causing absolute chaos"
"Burger King close to campsite completely trashed"
"200 protester ran across field and through woods and got onto A9 blocked for some time causing chaos"
"Some reports people had got onto the line at Sterling train station"
"Sterling is 20 miles south of Gleneagles"
"Some 2,500 to 3,000 staying at this camp"
"The M9, the main route from Edinburgh to Gleneagles, remains blocked at Stirling. Protests are continuing around Stirling and in other parts of Perthshire as activists attempt to carry out their objective of closing roads and rail links serving the summit venue."
"Queensway road out of Edinburgh is also reported blocked"
The march organised by the trotskyist front group G8 Alternatives on Gleneagles has just (11.15) been banned by police
[10.36 am this morning] Very dispersed and chaotic, lots and lots of arrests.
by dissenter via sms Wednesday, Jul 6 2005, 11:33am
Moving with pagans and clowns - gonna try an action at the fence. Not as imposing as we were led to believe. Long sections thinly policed.
Interview with 3 people just returned to the camp from the blocades about what went on - quality is quite poor - interviews seperated by tone
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/blockade.mp3
Call in Report:12:25pm....
Lock-on occurred on a road that leads to Gleneagles.
The Lock-on to a car lasted for a total of 5 hours resulting in 6 people being arrested - including one from ireland
In talking to people on the scene the action is seen as a success.
More happening in future.
From BBC news
1240: Tayside Police reverse their decision to cancel a protest march by G8 Alternatives in Auchterarder. The group's Gill Hubbard welcomes the decision.
Reporting that some support staff have still not arrived at Gleneagles
Post action meeting in progress - spirits are high
Some protesters still in countryside around Gleneagles trying to penetrate fence, police moving around a lot but it is pouring rain.
One of the clown army blockades off indymedia uk
Looks like the police are doing a lot of the blockading for them!
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/07/316629.htmlOne
supposedly 400 people arrested though I'd say includes a few not accounted for?
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/07/316514.html
krossie
Reports that critical mass has reached the media gate in the Gleneagles fence where they have been surrounded and section 60ed.
Reports are that about 4,000 are on the "G8 Alternatives" march on its way towards Gleneagles....
Around 200 people have broken off march and scaled wall to reach fence around Gleneagles. Elsewere I've seen it reported that the cops are six deep on the other side.
Lots of protesters have broken away from march and gone to fence. Police horses ready on other side.
Police chief "Disturbing to see that there has been this breakaway at this time ... More than 50 arrests today ... 10,600 police officers supporting the effort this week"
Stopped, standoff at front . . . This is really dangerous now
by dissenter via sms 4:10pm
Thousands of people hemmed in on a narrow residential road. Won't let the march go forward.. We won't return to a park after the day we've been through
"Hundreds and hundreds of protesters have broken away and have now started to walk down along the fence".
Riot police pouring through fence "hardcore looking for trouble and will get trouble" "Can see dozens and dozens of figures scurying around police vans as well"
Police horses now charging fence - reporter can't see if fence has been breached but sounds like it. World bosses have been flown in over their heads and so are around 500m away.
"One or two climbed trees close to the security fence.
They then began to move along the fence and gathered at a temporary police watchtower.
Some of the protesters began throwing missiles at the police, who responded by bringing up dogs.
Reinforcements were dropped into the area by Chinook helicopters and at the outer cordon, through which protesters had passed, officers in reflective jackets and caps were replaced by colleagues in riot gear."
"Getting less pleasant here - missiles are being thrown"
"A few hundred are intent on causing trouble ... Stewards are doing their best to keep the crowd moving ... hundreds upon hundreds still in that field in front of me ... march just seems to have stopped .. can see a lot of shields and a lot of helmets around the corner .. another Chinnok (helicoper) is landing with more police re enforcements ..."
Riot police formed shield wall and pushing people out of field.
"Police are suddenly going in with real force and real speed ... doing so in real numbers and with great force .. re enforcements still arriving in Chinnok with police and dogs"