Violent anarchists converge in Copenhagen

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, March 5 (UPI) -- Police in Copenhagen say they expect more violence from anarchist and anti-capitalist protesters who have converged on the Danish capital since last week.

Since Thursday, 643 people have been arrested for riots protesting the eviction of squatters from a 110-year-old building that once housed the far-left political movement in the city. Since 1996, it has been occupied by squatters, but anti-terror police moved in last week, The Times of London reported Monday.

The area around the Youth House building has been cordoned off, but protesters torched cars, ransacked a school and set fire to a nursery, police said.

Deputy Police Chief Niels-Erik Hansen told reporters 140 of those arrested so far have been from other countries, responding to an Internet appeal for more protesters.

"We expect that the moves to detain violent people and to expel the foreigners involved can calm the situation," Hansen said. "But we also expect that they will not give in."