Riot police tear gas masked mob of Trump haters

Riot police tear gas masked mob of Trump haters





Thousand of protesters launched a violent rampage just blocks away from the White House as Trump haters smashed store windows, set fire to cars and threw bricks at police - who arrested more than 200 before nightfall.

Heated clashes broke out in McPherson Square and along K Street as hundreds of riot police fired tear gas and drew their nightsticks to contain the masked mob.

As the rioting unfolded, Trump and his family were arriving at a review stand at the White House to see the end of the inaugural parade.





Militant anti-Trump protesters gave a foretaste of what could follow during the violent outbreaks, which has so far seen 217 people arrested and at least six police officers injured.



A mob chanting abuse at Trump threw bricks and rocks at police and set fire to debris on the street in McPherson Square near the White House.

Nearby, thousands of protesters descended on Franklin Square Park where they graffitied a stretch limo before setting the vehicle ablaze right outside the Washington Post building.

'Groups of people started gathering around the limo. There was a sense of something going to happen. People were shouting "it's going to blow". We tried to move them back,' Dailymail.com columnist Katie Hopkins, who witnessed the ordeal, said.

'The inauguration parade for the president is just blocks away from where all this is happening.'

Hopkins said the anarchists set things ablaze and started throwing bricks, stones and rocks.

'These people are here for this purpose - these guys are here for the fight,' she said.

SWAT team police in full riot gear moved in spraying pepper spray in a bid to disperse the rioters.

The protesters had earlier dragged trash cans into the road before setting them on fire.

Vendors selling Trump T-shirts suddenly started offering them as 'fire fuel, and set them alight.



One police van retreated quickly, reversing a whole city block at high speed after a rock smashed through its window but within minutes reinforcements arrived as a SWAT team in full riot gear blocked K Street and threatened to pepper spray yelling demonstrators.

A rock also hit a Secret Service vehicle forcing it to beat a hasty retreat.

Thugs dressed head-to-toe in black with their faces completely hidden urged the mob to gather pieces of paving stone to use as missiles.

Vandals set the limo afire after totally trashing it smashing its windows and scrawling graffiti on its side, leaving its horn constantly blaring.

Broadcaster Larry King said that while he was in a studio, the windows of his SUV were smashed by protesters.

'Protestors in DC smashed the windows of my hired SUV & many other cars. I was working in-studio & am ok, but my driver is a bit rattled,' he tweeted.



A TV truck was also smashed as the mob ignored calls to stop from one section of the crowd who said the new administration wanted them to riot.

'Please stop. This is not ok,' pleaded one young woman. 'This is what they want. They will eat this up.'

The protesters shouted 'F... Trump,' calling his new administration 'fascist' and 'illegitimate.' They brandished placards variously denouncing the new president as racist, homophobic and anti-women.

Police blasted them with tear gas and stun grenades and several women claimed they had been maced as they struggled with tears seeping from their eyes.

Riot police chased the group, some openly promoting anarchy, down 10th and E streets, about a mile from the Mall.



More than 500 people, many wearing masks and handkerchiefs over their faces, marched through the center of DC.

They attacked cars and shop windows, smashing glass panes at a Bank of America branch, a McDonald's outlet and a Starbucks shop.

Luis Villarroel from Virginia dropped passengers off near the corner of 13th and K Streets NW then parked in front of the Washington Post building.

He got out of his Lincoln MKT limo when he heard loud noises and 'hundreds of masked men' coming his way. He said the protesters 'threw food at him' and started beating his limo. They threw a flare inside the limo, which is still visible on the seat.



Police managed to funnel the protesters away, but security was stepped up for this afternoon's Presidential parade.

D.C. police reported that two uniformed officers sustained minor injuries and police vehicles were damaged in the riots.

President Trump began his reign at the White House today greeted by rain and vast empty spaces at his inauguration.

Unlike the inauguration ceremonies for former President Obama where crowds filled the Mall past the Washington Monument, Trump's acceptance speech was greeted by far less spectators.

As he spoke areas at the back of the Mall were empty and the three second delay in his words reaching those at the back only added to the low key atmosphere.

There were muted cheers and very little chanting to greet the President among the spectators that stood with space to walk freely behind them.