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Police warn of G20 protest scale Police warn of G20 protest scale
(40 minutes later)
Known activists are planning in an "unprecedented" way ahead of next month's G20 summit in London, the Metropolitan Police have warned.Known activists are planning in an "unprecedented" way ahead of next month's G20 summit in London, the Metropolitan Police have warned.
Cdr Bob Broadhurst, in charge of the policing operation, said anarchists and environmentalists were plotting a series of demonstrations.Cdr Bob Broadhurst, in charge of the policing operation, said anarchists and environmentalists were plotting a series of demonstrations.
Groups active in the late 1990s were re-emerging and forming new alliances to protest at the meeting, he said.Groups active in the late 1990s were re-emerging and forming new alliances to protest at the meeting, he said.
The operation will involve thousands of officers and cost an estimated £7.2m.The operation will involve thousands of officers and cost an estimated £7.2m.
Cdr Broadhurst said the groups thought to be re-forming were Reclaim the Streets and the Wombles. World leaders, including US President Barack Obama, will begin to arrive in the UK on 31 March.
Students were also involved in larger numbers than before, he said, and there was some evidence that foreign activists were heading to the UK to take part in the protests, in the City of London and at the Excel Centre, where the summit is taking place. The next day campaigners are expected to target the City of London in a series of anti-globalisation and climate change demonstrations.
As the G20 summit begins on 2 April, protests are also expected at the Excel conference centre in Docklands.
Numbers challenge
Cdr Broadhurst said officers from six forces would be involved in a massive security operation before and during the summit.
However, it was difficult to estimate how many protesters would actually turn up on the main day of activity on 1 April.
"Clearly there are some very innovative and clever people and they know our tactics," Cdr Broadhurst said. "They want to stop the City on the Wednesday - that is their avowed intention."
Anarchists by definition won't come and see us Cdr Bob Broadhurst
He said it was his aim to "facilitate lawful protest" and he revealed plans for a special demonstration pen near the Excel Centre to accommodate a few hundred protesters.
But while police had worked closely with some campaigners, the plans of other groups were harder to ascertain.
"Anarchists by definition won't come and see us," he said.
'Unhappy bedfellows'
He said there was no intelligence to suggest there was a terrorist attack planned, but there was evidence that groups not seen since the 1990s, such as Reclaim the Streets and the Wombles, were re-forming and planning activity.
Students were also involved in larger numbers than before, he said, and there was some evidence that foreign activists were heading to the UK to take part in the protests.
He added: "There will be times when protest comes up against security and they are not always happy bedfellows."
Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said policing the summit and protecting the 20 world leaders and 40 delegations was a "huge challenge".Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said policing the summit and protecting the 20 world leaders and 40 delegations was a "huge challenge".