Taxpayers face a bill of more than £1million after violence erupted during a weekend of demonstrations over the Israeli military action in Gaza.
Extremists were blamed for clashes which broke out near the Israeli embassy in London, as tens of thousands marched in protest over Israel's offensive.
Police believe a small number of activists tried to hijack the demonstration and turn it into a riot.
Shop windows were smashed and police pelted with bricks and bottles by masked youths near the embassy in Kensington during the largest demonstration against Israel's military action. Protesters smashed up a police van before torching an Israeli flag.
Many are thought to have travelled to London with the aim of causing anarchist mayhem at Saturday's demonstration, organised by the Stop the War Coalition.
It is believed coachloads of Muslim youths with Pakistani origins attended the demonstration after being driven from Yorkshire and the Midlands.
A total of 24 arrests were made, mainly for violent disorder. Three police officers and 20 protesters suffered minor injuries. Scotland Yard sources say the cost of policing Saturday's demonstration, and other Gaza-related protests in London over the past week, already exceeds £1million.
Metropolitan Police Commander Bob Broadhurst hit out at 'the irresponsible and criminal actions' of the rioters.
'A hard core of demonstrators has undermined the cause of the vast majority of demonstrators, who are law abiding citizens wishing to protest peacefully,' he said.
there were two more demonstrations in Central London. Thousands of Israeli supporters gathered in Trafalgar Square. A rival pro-Palestinian march, attended by several hundred, started from Marble Arch. Both passed off peacefully.
TRADERS told today how pro-Palestinian demonstrators caused hundreds of thousands of pounds of damage when they ransacked businesses near the Israeli Embassy.
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