Cyclists arrested at Olympics

London: More than 100 people were arrested during a protest by cyclists during the Olympics opening ceremony, police said on Saturday.

Scotland Yard said two groups of protesters were arrested on suspicion of breaching protest conditions and causing a public nuisance.

The amateur cycling club had tried to pedal their way through the security cordon around the Olympic Park during Friday evening`s opening ceremony.

Officers scuffled with several pro-cycling activists as dozens of cyclists were blocked by police vans from proceeding, Scotland Yard said. No serious injuries were reported.

The cyclists were identified as members of a monthly cycling event called "Critical Mass" that normally passes through the area, but a police order had prohibited the group from travelling into the Olympic Park area in east London during Friday night`s opening ceremony.

Police said they would give the precise number of arrests later.

Separately, a small radical Islam group had planned a demonstration outside the Olympic Park to expose what it calls "the evil of the Olympics" for Friday, but the protest was cancelled for no stated reason last week.

BDST: 1734 HRS, July 28, 2012
Edited by
Chanchal Ghosh, Newsroom Editor