Scotland Yard is to deploy thousands of extra police officers and impose tough public order restrictions over fears that a Bonfire night protest in London against austerity and increased state surveillance will turn violent.
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Similar Million Mask Marches are scheduled to take place in cities across the world on 5 November.
A police sergeant told the Evening Standard that tonight will be the “big one” as most of the “hardcore protesters” had stayed away from the student fees protest as they did not always have a view on it, and would have wanted to avoid the risk of arrest and potentially missing tonight’s march. Its agenda is broadly anti-capitalism and pro-civil liberty.
Last year, 10 people were arrested amid violence towards officers and public buildings being vandalised.
The march starts at 6pm in Trafalgar Square and should end at 9pm according to police restrictions, which have been put in place after last year’s protest continued well into the night.
Ch Supt Pippa Mills said: “This year, we have strong reason to believe that peaceful protest is the last thing on the minds of numerous people who will come along”.
Chief Superintendent Mills said: “Last year hundreds of people on their way home from work, or out enjoying an evening in the capital, were surrounded by people causing them huge concern”.
A Facebook message from the Seattle group reads, “On November 5th, we will be rallying at Westlake Park in Seattle at 2pm, and then marching to the Federal Courthouse at 3pm, and from there, we shall march to Amazon for a few serious lulz!”.
These include the power to remove facial coverings – such as the Guy Fawkes masks which are a symbol of the Anonymous movement – if police anticipate there may be criminal offences committed in the area.
The post adds they “openly invite everyone” but reminds attendees: “The police are not your friends, this goes for police liaison officers too, they’re simply a “friendly face” who collect intelligence”.
Almost 20,000 people said on Facebook they are attending the protest.
‘The government and the 1% have played their hand, now it is time to play ours’.
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Established more than a decade ago, the Anonymous group has become famous for its acts online, including hacking major organisations, and organising protests in the streets.
