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Anarchists and Police Face a Day of Reckoning

Posted on: Monday, 4 July 2005, 09:00 CDT

POLICE last night admitted that they still have no idea where or exactly when a radical anti-G8 protest in Scotland's capital will take place today, even though major city-centre businesses and office workers have been identified as potential targets.

Officers leading the security effort for the G8 summit have been left almost completely in the dark about the arrangements for the so- called Carnival For Full Enjoyment.

Although the protest is expected to begin in the city's West End, officers concede they have nothing to confirm this and protests could spring up elsewhere in the city.

None of the anarchist and anti-capitalist groups behind the event have contacted police, but officers who have studied previous protests by those involved believe disruption is likely.

Sources say human roadblocks and sit-ins at the offices of major financial institutions such Standard Life may be high on the list of planned activities during the event.

Police are therefore intensifying their preparations ahead of the demonstration, with officers insisting they will be prepared for "any situation".

Riot police involved in a violent clash with anarchists on Saturday will again be on stand-by in case of trouble.

A group of around 60 anti-capitalists - many from the hardline group Black Bloc - ran at police after breaking away from the Make Poverty History rally in the Meadows, some throwing missiles and wooden poles. Officers in riot gear were called and, after being held in a side street for more than two hours, all the protesters were released without arrest.

Hundreds of police will be positioned across the city, but their policing strategy has been compromised by a total absence of contact with those behind the event.

It has been planned by protesters linked to Dissent, a network of anarchists and anti-capitalists, and the only concrete information issued has been a call for participants to gather at the west end of Princes Street at noon.

A police source said: "I suspect we don't know any more about this than the press do. Consequently, our plans have to be flexible and we have to have resources in place that will allow us to deal effectively with any situation that should arise.

"We are planning for spontaneous events and we think there will be some degree of disruption, but at the moment we know hardly anything about precisely what will happen, or specific places and times.

"We are basing our plans on activities we are aware have taken place elsewhere by the people involved."

The event has been billed as a "demonstration against work", with websites describing it as a raucous party visiting various locations in central Edinburgh.

The source said police were prepared to clear any human roadblocks by force if necessary.

"Our plans are to take a low profile approach to any protests," the source said. "Arrests will be only be a last resort."

Notorious anarchist groups connected with previous violent anti- capitalist demonstrations in London, including the Wombles, are thought to be planning action today. Police have already issued guidance to financial institutions such as the Royal Bank of Scotland and Standard Life on how they should react if demonstrators try to enter premises to stage sit-ins.

The advice warns against talking to or arguing with protesters who manage to get into buildings and suggests businesses redeploy CCTV cameras and lock doors if they think an invasion is threatened. Staff have also been told to wear casual clothes so they cannot be identified as employees.

Police clashed with G8 protesters for the first time in Edinburgh on Saturday afternoon when they confronted anarchists close to Edinburgh University's George Square campus. More than 200 officers threw a ring around the protesters, many of whom had travelled from mainland Europe.

Police had been monitoring the group throughout the day and descended on the protesters after spotting some of them changing their clothes and putting scarves over their faces. Officers chose not to arrest any individual amid concerns that any perceived heavy- handedness could have provoked the protesters and sparked serious violence.

Chief Superintendent Charles Michie said: "There was a strong possibility they would disrupt the march and so we took what was considered appropriate action."

Hundreds of passers-by were also caught up in the violent scenes when an army of "situationist" clowns taunted police by attempting to kiss them and dust their boots. One police officer was struck on head by an object hurled by a protester, but did not require treatment.

Source: Scotsman, The

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