Riot police in London. Photograph by Weldon Kennedy
Riot police raided a building in central London where StopG8 activists were meeting for an anti-G8 “Carnival Against Capitalism” rally alter today.
Demonstrators had planned the “carnival” would begin a week of street protests in London before Britain hosts a meeting of the G8 at a gold resort in Northern Ireland. The group said in a statement that the mass actions “will only be as effective as the people participating in them”, continuing:
“We have not negotiated with the police and we will not be controlled. If we look after each other, stay mobile, don’t get caught in kettles and are ready to make quick decisions about what to do next, we can make the most of the day. See you on the streets,” the group said.”
Hours before the demonstrations were due to begin, hundreds of police officers in riot gear swooped on an address on Beak Street, just of Regent Street, with officers forming a cordon to trap the protesters while a helicopter hovered overhead.
In a statement, the Met police said:
“There’s a warrant being executed there… Our protest liaison teams are actively working to engage with those wishing to protest so that we can facilitate peaceful protest.”
Last month, StopG8 published a map showing the locations of 100 potential targets for the anti-G8 protests including offices of banks, financial institutions, defence contractors, and energy companies. In response a number of these companies have warned staff to take precautions in the events of disruption.
