Photo by Paul Golding

One protestor, who is not known to be affiliated with any Tibet support group, attempted to grab the torch from the hands of a torch-bearer. Another attempted to put out the Olympic flame using a fire extinguisher. View Reuters video footage

View YouTube footage of the London torch relay (Clip 1)
View YouTube footage of the London torch relay (Clip 2)
View YouTube footage of the London torch relay (Clip 3)

English actress Joanna Lumley and British Olympian (and torch-bearer) Sir Steve Redgrave were interviewed on the lunchtime radio news. Joanna held the the IOC accountable for failing to act, said the torch should not go through Tibet. Sir Steve Redgrave agreed that sport and politics could not be separated and said he thought economic pressure on China was now required.

Tessa Jowell, UK Sports Minister said she hoped today would show the world that legitimate lawful protest was a democratic right in this country; further that governments must continue to speak out against the unacceptable abuses of human rights in China. Prime Minister Gordon Brown posed with the torch, but did not hold it.

The former Chinese Ambassador to Australia, Madame Fu Ying, took part on the torch relay due to a last-minute change of route which saw the flame being run through London’s Chinatown.

Security Tightened
Security has been tightened for the Paris leg of the torch relay. It is reported that about 3,000 French police - on motorcycles, in jogging gear and on roller blades - will protect the Olympic torch relay as it departs from the Eiffel Tower and crisscrosses Paris.

The Olympic torch will be in Canberra on Thursday 24 April. The Australia Tibet Council will join Tibetans and Tibet supporters in Canberra for peaceful protests along the torch route.

Email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you are interested in joining us.