Hundreds Arrested, Four Injured at Occupy Oakland Protest

"Once again, a violent splinter group of the Occupy movement is engaging in violent actions against Oakland," Quan said.

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City officials said three police officers and one protester were injured during repeated altercations throughout downtown. There was no immediate word on their condition. Streaming Internet broadcasts by activists showed several demonstrators being treated by paramedics or loaded into ambulances.

Occupy Oakland organizers had earlier vowed to take over the apparently empty convention center to establish a new headquarters for their movement and draw attention to homelessness in a move seen as a challenge to authorities who have blocked similar efforts before.

Police and protesters first scuffled after activists tried to tear down a chain-link fence surrounding the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center in downtown Oakland.

"The one percent have all these empty buildings, and meanwhile there are all these homeless people," protester Omar Yassin told Reuters at the scene.

Police in riot gear moved in, firing smoke grenades and tear gas to drive the crowd back. A city representative estimated the number of arrests at more than 200 throughout the day.

"Officers were pelted with bottles, metal pipe, rocks, spray cans, improvised explosive devices, and burning flares," the Oakland Police Department said in a statement. "Oakland Police Department deployed smoke and tear gas."

Corrugated Metal Shields

Some activists, carrying shields made of plastic garbage cans and corrugated metal, tried to circumvent the police line, and they surged toward police on another side of the building as more smoke canisters were fired.

"The City of Oakland welcomes peaceful forms of assembly and freedom of speech, but acts of violence, property destruction, and overnight lodging will not be tolerated," police said in a statement.