Thousands Of #Anonymous Protesters Clash With Police In The Streets Of London

    Protesters told BuzzFeed News they wanted a revolution. Actor and comedian Russell Brand was also pictured at the event.

    Thousands of anticapitalist protesters wearing Anonymous masks caused chaos in the streets of London on Wednesday night and met police resistance at Parliament Square, Buckingham Palace, and the BBC.

    The activists claimed that the government had failed the people and accused it of corruption.

    At least 10 protesters were arrested, according to the Metropolitan police.

    At at 2345hrs, 10 arrests re #MillionMaskMarch. 3 x assault on police, 1 x firework, 1 x att GBH, 3 x public order offence, 2 x obstruction

    Actor and comedian Russell Brand also turned up to the protest, where he told the activists to be peaceful.

    The so-called #MillionMaskMarch was organised largely through word of mouth and through social media and took place in cities around the world. The police released this message ahead of time warning protesters to be wary of their actions.

    If you are planning to attend central London's #MillionMaskMarch tonight this is what @MetPoliceEvents say.

    But activists said that the Met's efforts to speak to organisers before the event were futile. "We don't have a leader," one protester said. "We're a collective movement."

    Activists present broke the police's rules a number of times, setting off fireworks in Trafalgar Square (as below), and some aimed them at police in Parliament Square.

    Siraj Datoo / BuzzFeed News

    The protest began in Trafalgar Square, where activists sang about putting "Tories on the top" of bonfires and sang many chants that became popular during the 2010 student protests over education fees.

    Siraj Datoo / BuzzFeed News

    A struggle between police and a minority of protesters became a theme on Wednesday evening, with police having barricaded many parts of the capital to protect landmarks.

    Siraj Datoo / BuzzFeed News

    And both sides taunted one another. At one point outside the House of Commons activists attempted to remove a barricade and a police officer laughed, and said: "I'm only holding it with one hand and you can't move it."

    Siraj Datoo / BuzzFeed News

    And later, once protesters arrived at Buckingham Palace, some activists taunted police in return after lighting sparklers in front of them and asking if they were going to be arrested.

    BuzzFeed News spoke to a number of protesters at Parliament Square, outside the entrance to the House of Commons, about why they were protesting.

    The man who led the activists towards Buckingham Palace said: "Some people would say the people at the top aren't even humans. Some say the Queen is a reptile. She's a lizard."

    Siraj Datoo / BuzzFeed News

    He refused to clarify whether he agreed with this assessment.

    "We want to start a revolution," he added. "I don't know the solution but nothing's going to be achieved by staying at home."

    Another theme of the evening was a large amount of violent behaviour, seemingly borne out of frustration.

    Siraj Datoo / BuzzFeed News

    As activists walked through London, many took apart barricades set up to guide protesters and threw them into the middle of the road to block traffic as they chanted: "Whose streets? Our streets!"

    At one point, a couple of activists threw a set of barricades into the garden of a London resident.

    Siraj Datoo / BuzzFeed News

    And later, as protesters walked through Piccadilly Circus and along Regent Street, a number emptied public bins into the middle of the road.

    Although the police were largely staying on the sidelines for the majority of the protest, a number started to chase after activists who had knocked over bins onto the road.

    Siraj Datoo / BuzzFeed

    When asked about the behaviour, one activist said: "We want to show that the people own the streets."