Anarchist base destroyed in dawn raid
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by David Bamber, Home Affairs Correspondent 6:56pm Sat Mar 31 '01
TWO hundred police officers staged a dawn raid yesterday on a secret
training centre for anarchists who are planning to bring chaos to London
on May Day.
The Scotland Yard squad, including officers wearing riot gear, used
mechanical diggers to demolish part of an empty factory, to prevent
protesters from using it. The building, in Brixton, south-west London,
had been chosen as the site for drilling 500 rioters in preparations for
attacks on police during protests in the capital on May 1.
Sir John Stevens, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police,
authorised the raid after undercover surveillance of the building by
Special Branch detectives uncovered plans by a newly formed
anti-capitalist group who call themselves Wombles (White Overall
Movement Building Liberation through Effective Struggle). Anarchists
from across Europe were due to gather in the disused button factory this
weekend for riot training and planning.
Yesterday detectives seized a training plan and material expected to
have been used to make the rioters' protective uniform. Three interior
walls of the building were daubed with anarchist graffiti including the
slogan: "Smash Police Skulls".
Det Supt Bob Randall, who led the raid, codenamed Operation Dursley,
said: "There is no doubt that this new radical organisation of
anarchists is importing a frightening brand of continental-style
violence into British protests. We have seen violent tactics used around
the world against government leaders and business organisations in
Prague and Seattle.
"Now they are being used here. Last year's May Day riots showed what
mayhem and destruction can be caused when things get out of hand and
this new organisation is actively preparing and inciting people to cause
violence."
The Wombles, formed last September, are the British arm of the violent
Italian anarchist organisation Ya Basta, which hijacked an Italian train
last year and tried to drive it to a summit of world leaders in Prague
before setting it on fire. Ya Basta has been behind scores of violent
demonstrations across the Continent and has adopted what police describe
as "sinister paramilitary-style tactics".
Their distinctive bulky white uniforms inspired the British anarchists
to call them Wombles, because of their similarity in appearance to the
stars of the
1970s BBC children's show, and later to adopt the name themselves.
Despite being named after fluffy television characters, the Wombles form
a highly
trained and dedicated organisation. Many of the leaders have already
been involved in actions abroad.
Detectives are increasingly worried about a significant outbreak of
violence being planned for May Day. Det Supt Randall said: "Last year's
demonstration was largely organised by Reclaim the Streets, which is a
peaceful organisation, although there was trouble. This year the
organisation has been overtaken by far more violent groups."
As The Telegraph revealed in February, the anarchists are using the
board game Monopoly as a guide to co-ordinate their actions. A website
instructs activists to seize the headquarters of major companies and
utility firms. Police have now also uncovered evidence that McDonald's
restaurants and Gap stores on Oxford Street are particular targets.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk
