Olympic protests turn violent in Vancouver (1st Lead)

Feb 13, 2010, 20:48 GMT

Vancouver - Several people have been arrested in clashes Saturday between police and anti-Olympic protesters in Vancouver, local media reported.

Around 200 protesters had been attempting to make their way to the official International Olympic Committee hotel, the Westin Bayshore Hotel, in central Vancouver, according to some reports.

Police spokesman Jana McGuinness was quoted as saying cars and transit buses have been sprayed with anti-Olympic messages, while officers have come under a barrage of thrown objects.

On Friday evening, two police officers were slightly injured and one man arrested in a confrontation with anti-Olympic protests before and during the opening ceremony of the Games.

In a statement, Vancouver police said a crowd estimated at 1,500 'engaged police' during a march downtown.

'Two officers were injured with flying objects and one was sent to hospital with a shoulder injury but was treated and released. No protesters were injured,' it said.

'One man was taken into custody and is facing a charge of assault.'

IOC communications director Mark Adams told reports Saturday he had no knowledge of any extra security measures at the IOC hotel and described the protests as 'minor.'

'We are totally in support of peaceful demonstrations but where we draw the line, and where most Canadians would also draw the line, is when people get violent,' he said.