Turkish group hijacks London Eye

The wheel has been used for protests before

About 600 people have been evacuated from the London Eye after it was hijacked by Turkish protesters.

Reports say the group are threatening to set fire to themselves.

The 22 demonstrators took over two pods of the giant observation wheel on the south bank of the River Thames at about 1445GMT on Wednesday.

Another 50-strong group of protesters have gathered beneath the wheel and are chanting slogans.

Police are negotiating with the demonstrators, who are understood to be refusing to leave the wheel.

'Kurdish' occupation

In a separate protest, also on Wednesday, demonstrators occupied the London offices of the European Commission.

It is thought they have been angered by violent clashes between security forces and inmates in Turkish jails.

Police said the protesters were Kurds.

In a phone call to Reuters news agency the occupiers said they were the "families and friends of political prisoners in Turkey".

Nineteen people have died in recent confrontations between Turkish security forces and armed inmates at two prisons.