Police use tear gas as barricades set on fire

ALMOST 200 people were arrested late on Monday night after protesters set fire to street barricades in a central Copenhagen neighbourhood…

ALMOST 200 people were arrested late on Monday night after protesters set fire to street barricades in a central Copenhagen neighbourhood. Protesters hurled fire bombs at riot police, who responded with tear gas, officers said.

But pressure is growing for Danish police to account for their tactics after four days of demonstrations have seen controversial “kettle” tactics used three times, and more than 1,500 arrests.

More than 200 official complaints have been filed with the police about the arrests on Saturday and Sunday.

Marc Jorgensen, working with a legal support group for activists, said the complaints were focused on the arbitrary nature of the arrests, and on the conditions in which detainees were held.

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He said there was particular concern about an incident on Sunday night when, in response to a disturbance cause by some detainees, the police allegedly used pepper spray on them in the cages.