Tibetan deaths prompt Olympic torch fears

LONDON, April 5 (UPI) -- London authorities are growing increasingly concerned regarding security for this weekend's Olympic torch relay after the deaths of eight Tibetan protesters.

The news of the protesters' deaths, allegedly at the hands of Chinese police officers, has left police in London fearing Sunday's 31-mile torch relay route could draw both pro-Tibet protesters and Chinese students, The Times of London reported Saturday.

More than 80,000 people expected to attend the Olympic event, The Times said.

Pro-Tibet campaigners vowed to increase protests of the Beijing Games immediately following Friday's deadly protest in China's Sichuan province, The Times said.

Chinese paramilitary police reportedly attempted to quell a protest by Tibetan monks and villagers by using force, leaving eight people dead.