TUESDAY FEBRUARY 13 2001 Anarchists Plot May Protests To Disrupt Election ================================== BY STEWART TENDLER AND DANIEL MCGRORY EXTREMIST groups are plotting to paralyse London with violent May Day protests 48 hours before the expected general election polling day. Intelligence reports say that organisers are recruiting support from abroad to choke the capital on May 1. They intend the protests to spill over to election day. Police are monitoring "electronic traffic" between anarchist groups to thwart their plans, amid fears that ringleaders are intent on causing more trouble than at last year's May Day protests. Sir John Stevens, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said that he was drawing up plans to cancel all leave over the May Day period and was considering a ban on all protests in the capital. He has been shown intelligence reports on how organisers want to exploit the timing of their May 1 protest to embarrass the main political parties. British anti-capitalist protesters are urging extremists from abroad to visit because of the publicity that the London rallies would get so close to a general election. The fears of the police are shared by ministers, who are daunted by the prospect of campaigning on law and order while there are running street battles around the capital. Every security agency in the country has been told to concentrate its efforts on uncovering then blocking the protesters' plans. Sir John said that if necessary he would borrow officers from neighbouring forces to reinforce the Metropolitan Police ranks. Sir John, speaking to The Times to mark his first year as leader of Britain's biggest force, said that last year the protesters planned to take over a government building in Whitehall and challenge police to remove them, but they were thwarted. This year he said that the Yard had drawn up contingency plans. "We will have the resources to meet, match and beat (the protesters). We cannot have the streets of London descending into anarchy, people being physically hurt or damage done. That cannot be allowed," Sir John said. The problem with the police and other intelligence services eavesdropping on the protesters is that the groups know that their planning on the Internet is being monitored. Aware that anyone can access such websites, the organisers are believed to be sending false information. The belief is that there will be a major protest at a well-known, symbolic London venue, which will be advertised on the Internet - but the real trouble will come from breakaway groups that will strike at alternative sites.
