68 protesters, a part of the Occupy Wall Street movement, were arrested in New York on New Year's Eve. According to police reports, they were detained for tearing down barricades surrounding Zuccotti Park just before midnight.

At least one person has been accused of assaulting a police officer, while other charges include trespassing, disorderly conduct and reckless endangerment.

One demonstrator has claimed the police tried to prevent the five-hundred strong crowd from taking down the barricades. Police are still processing arrests but several have been released.