Police fire tear gas at anti-Wall Street protest

Columns of white smoke filled the streets and loud bursts echoed off the buildings as the demonstrators scattered before riot police, who had earlier arrested scores of protesters.

At least one protester fell to the ground, bleeding from the head and unconscious, after being struck by a tear gas canister. He was later dragged off by fellow protesters.

The protesters later regrouped and started hurling eggs at the riot police, who responded by firing paint-balls at them.

The Oakland Police Department said in a statement that officers fired tear gas after a group of 450-500 protestors attacked them.

“Protesters in the area of 7th and Broadway began throwing paint or other hazardous material at the officers, who deployed gas as a defense tactic,” the Department said.

Riot police had arrested 85 people early Tuesday morning as they cleared the “Occupy Oakland” tent encampment from a square in front of City Hall, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The protesters had sought to return to the encampment they had occupied for two weeks as part of the growing nationwide demonstrations against corporate greed.