Rioters attack Starbucks and loot shops in anti-Israel demo

The policing bill for Saturday's protest has topped more than £1million. Three officers and 20 demonstrators were injured.

An angry mob targeted shops and cafés in Kensington High Street, looting and smashing windows as violence flared during the rally.

Starbucks bore the brunt of the vandalism as masked protesters ripped out fittings and equipment after clashes with riot police.

A few doors down, at the Stick and Bowl Chinese restaurant, waitress Mai Chen narrowly escaped injury when rioters threw a metal bar through the window. Restaurant manager Daniel Foo said: "They threw bottles, shoes and sticks and one bracket that cracked an officer's riot helmet and put her on the floor. Another came through our window, but we need the whole front replaced because the weight of the crowds buckled it."

About 200 hardcore protesters led the rampage after thousands had marched peacefully from Speakers' Corner, Hyde Park, to Kensington Gardens, near the embassy in Palace Green.

Looters smashed the window of the Top Gun clothes store, stealing leather wallets and bags before throwing red paint into the shop.

Iranian businessman Mike Miri, who owns the store, said: "We think we were deliberately targeted as the name sounds American." Police arrested 24 people after seemingly indiscriminate attacks on a dental practice and a newsagents. Dr Dave Jamus feared looters would steal the £20,000 worth of paintings from his Kensington Dental Spa after they smashed through the glass frontage.

Strada manager Santo Muscabneri told how staff tried to prevent rioters damaging the restaurant by serving free "pizzas for peace" and giving shelter to a group of children.

Stop the War Coalition, which organised the demonstration, said the violent mob represented only a minority of the protesters. Spokesman Sabah Jawad said: "It is unfortunate that a small group of people did this. Police underestimated the number of people and tried to barricade them into a small area. They should have been more flexible over access." The coalition estimates 100,000 people took part in the rally; police say it was about 20,000.

A pro-Israel demonstration in Trafalgar Square yesterday passed off largely peacefully. Organisers claimed 15,000 demonstrators were present although police put numbers at 4,000. Two were arrested for public order offences.

Speakers addressed the rally to defend Israel's right to protect itself. Henry Grunwald, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, told the crowd: "The atmosphere on the streets of London has been very unpleasant in the last few days. We felt it important to make our voices heard. We want the people of Israel to have peace, and the people of Gaza to have peace."

Around 100 pro-Palestinian supporters gathered outside the Israeli Embassy again yesterday afternoon for a demonstration that passed without incident.

Met Police Commander Bob Broadhurst, in charge of policing the demonstrations, said discussions would be held with both sets of protesters this week to prevent any more violence. He said: "We will need to sit down and talk to organisers and say, 'enough's enough'."