Police fear more May Day riots

A worldwide day of protest is expected on May Day 2001

Foreign anarchist groups may be planning to descend on London for a repeat of last year's anti-capitalism May Day protests.

Police fear UK activists will be joined by groups from abroad for riots and disruption which could last days.

Metropolitan Commissioner Sir John Stevens said anarchists were using the internet to plot their campaign.

Their intention is to disrupt the everyday workings of London life

Metropolitan Commissioner Sir John Stevens

"There's intelligence to suggest that a variety of anarchists and other groups are organising anti-capitalism protests on May Day," he said.

"There are strong indications to suggest that planning by protest groups is well advanced and that their intention is to disrupt the everyday workings of London life."

Last year, 97 people were arrested after shops were smashed and protesters clashed with police on 1 May.

A number of London landmarks - including the Cenotaph and the statue of Winston Churchill - were vandalised during the riots.

Nine police officers were hurt during the protest around Parliament Square and Whitehall, condemned by the government as "criminality and thuggery masquerading as political protest".

Not all action was violent - some protesters made a garden and planted cannabis seeds in Parliament Square.

The disruption followed the J18 Carnival against Capitalism in the city on 18 June, 1999.

May Day 'Monopoly'

Activists targeted the World Economic Forum summit in the Swiss ski resort of Davos in January and meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in Prague last September.

May Day 2001, dubbed M1 2k01, is expected to prompt demonstrations from anti-capitalist and other protest groups around the world, not just in London.

Activists in Australia are already calling on supporters for a "shutdown of corporate Melbourne" with mass mobile blockades, street parties, music and performances on 1 May.

The London action is expected to be themed on the Monopoly board game with different groups carrying out actions throughout the city, relating to squares on the Monopoly board.