You're reading: Four charged for cyclist protest outside Olympic Park

LONDON — London police arrested 182 activists on bicycles who tried to breach the Olympic Park's security cordon during the Olympics opening ceremony, officials said Sunday.

Four people have been
charged with various offenses during Friday night’s protest, while the
rest were released pending further questioning, Scotland Yard said.

Police
said that they were aware that a monthly protest by cyclists was
planned for Friday but ordered the protesters to remain south of the
River Thames. That was to keep them from blocking more than 80,000
ticket-holding guests from attending the Olympics opening ceremony.

Police
said around 400 to 500 people gathered for the demonstration attempted
to cross the Thames to the Stratford area, where the Olympic Park is
located, defying police warnings and attempts to stop them. The cyclists
split into small groups and some managed to reach Stratford.

In a
statement, Metropolitan Police said it respected the right to protest
but officers must stop protesters who affect athletes, spectators, and
ordinary Londoners. It said officers began arresting the cyclists only
after they ignored verbal warnings to leave the area.

The
anti-capitalist group Occupy London, part of a global movement that has
waged demonstrations against financial institutions and capitalist
policies, said some cyclists were members of their organization. They
said police cordoned off more than 100 cyclists at one road junction
near the stadium as Friday’s ceremony was beginning and held them there
several hours.