Eric Garner protest: 76 protesters arrested at Westfield in west London as 'die-in' turns violent

Police have made 76 arrests at the Shepherd's Bush Westfield shopping centre after protests over the death of Eric Garner turned violent.

An estimated 600 people swamped the west London shopping mall to take part in what was advertised as a "die-in" demonstration in solidarity with US man Garner, who died during an arrest by a white policeman in New York in July.

His death sparked a wave of demonstrations across the US and inspired the London Black Revs to organise Wednesday's "die-in".

But what started as peaceful protest turned ugly when a group tried to force their way into the Westfield shopping centre after police reportedly asked them to leave the mall.

Police were forced to use kettling tactics as violence broke out when members of the group assaulted security staff and caused damage to property.

In total 76 people were arrested on suspicion of public order offences, while one man was further arrested on suspicion of assault.

They have been taken to various London police stations for questioning.

Chief Superintendent Mark Bird, in charge of the policing operation said: "We will always work with those that wish to demonstrate lawfully - as the majority of protestors did yesterday. However, we will not tolerate the small minority that offer violence or commit other criminal acts, such as that witnessed outside Westfield yesterday evening."