City prepares for violence

THOUSANDS of activists from across Europe were converging on London today amid growing fears protests will turn violent.

Hardcore anarchists from Italy, France and Germany are mobilising supporters in a bid to disrupt the meeting of world leaders.

Intelligence chiefs fear known agitators are arriving in London via Eurostar or coach after a week of anarchist attacks in Italy.

Police in France expect at least 1,000 activists to travel to London. Members of Anarch-Autonomist, who often wear black masks, have been swapping information about G20 protests online.

Security forces in Italy say members of Guerrigilieri Anomali (Anomalous Warriors) are heading to London. It comes after attacks on symbols of wealth across Italy including the famous Cambio restaurant in Turin.

In Germany three separate groups are calling for volunteers to travel to London, including the Stop the War Coalition, ANTIFA, the anti-fascist umbrella group whose members clashed violently with police at anti-G8 riots, and Attac, another left-wing group with ties to anti-globalisation protestors across Europe.

It comes as the Met warned the prospect of violent clashes had lured anarchists from the Poll Tax riots of 1990 out of retirement.

Groups including Class War, the Wombles and the Whitechapel Anarchist Group have secretly reformed to plot carnage on London's streets this week.

Class War founder Ian Bone wrote on a web blog: "We hope to control large parts of central London. Whether it kicks off depends on numbers. The Poll Tax riots were all about 50,000 people who wanted a punch-up. This feels like that."

The authorities have taken massive precautions in case security in London deteriorates. Red phone boxes have been removed and rubble cleared from building sites.

The Ritz hotel and other well-known buildings have been boarded up as managers fear symbols of wealth will be targeted.

Police are already monitoring an anarchist group which has taken over a disused pub on the fringes of the City to use as a nerve centre for co-ordinating G20 protests. The 'Convergence Crew', which played a major role in the May Day protests in central London in 2001, scaled the derelict building in Shoreditch on Saturday to gain access and unfurled banners from its roof. The boarded-up building in Paul Street is half a mile from Liverpool Street and Moorgate train stations, two focal points for demonstrations on Wednesday.

Met Commander Bob Broadhurst said: "We're seeing some of the protesters and groups of the 1990s coming back to the fore."