Revelers take up rioting as Canada marked St. Patricks Day.
Violence erupted in a neighborhood near Fanshawe College in London, Ontario Saturday at a street party that drew around a thousand people. Some threw beer bottles, bricks and other debris at police and firefighters
London police Chief Bradley Duncan, says he has never seen anything like it.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) LONDON POLICE CHIEF BRADLEY DUNCAN SAYING:
"Last night was a complete disregard for police presence. In fact, I've heard some of our officers refer to it as a 'war zone' last night. They have never experienced that kind of volatility."
Duncan said the police were called after firefighters responding to a brush fire near a St. Patrick's day street party were met by a hail of bottles and bricks.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) LONDON POLICE CHIEF BRADLEY DUNCAN SAYING:
"Police vehicles were pounded by two-by-fours, bricks, tire rims and other various items. Seventeen police vehicles have been damaged, including windows and dents to vehicle bodies. Members of the public order unit had to deploy smoke canisters in an attempt to disperse some of the crowd in an attempt to get some of the police vehicles out of the area.
The confrontation lasted until early Sunday morning with 11 people arrested.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
