A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C E http://www.ainfos.ca/ ________________________________________________ Police fear anarchist attack on Queen's Jubilee By Jenny Booth and David Bamber (Filed: 30/12/2001) The Torygraph (UK) SPECIAL Branch detectives are investigating anarchist plans for the violent disruption of the thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral attended by the Queen to celebrate her Golden Jubilee next year. Hundreds of activists from the Movement Against the Monarchy (Ma'm) and other radical groups intend to target the service on June 4, which is the focal point of four days of official jubilee celebrations. They plan a big demonstration outside the cathedral, which police fear will turn violent. On a website for members, "Ma'm" says: "The 'thanksgiving' service at St Paul's will have laughing gas pumped through the air vents, and machine gun bullets playing on a hidden loudspeaker system and on our ghetto blasters." One Special Branch officer said: "We have seen in Britain that anarchists are capable of mounting mass violent confrontations. Last May, they almost brought the centre of London to a standstill with their anti-capitalist protests on Oxford Street. "A demonstration of similar ferocity in a smaller place has the capacity to wreak far greater damage and endanger life." The anarchist group also plans to set up a guillotine outside for effigies of the Royal Family. "Ma'm" has threatened to disrupt the Queen's three-month tour of the country next summer with regional protests and to hold anti-royal street parties on June 3, the day designated for local celebrations of the jubilee. It claims that its actions are revenge for official attempts to clamp down on Mayday demonstrations. Republic, another anti-monarchist group, has declared June 4 as Republic Day and is encouraging members to organise demonstrations. Special Branch officers based at New Scotland Yard have been closely monitoring "Ma'm" and several other anarchist groups in Britain and abroad, which they suspect of intending to disrupt the royal celebrations. Detectives from the anti-terrorist squad believe that the greatest threat to the Royal Family will come at a series of regional walkabouts which are being publicised on the "Ma'm" site. The police are determined to thwart any violent protests by careful intelligence gathering. The royal schedule will remain flexible and any hint of trouble will be taken into account. But one day that cannot be cancelled is the service of thanksgiving. A "Ma'm" spokesman in east London denied that the group was planning mass action but said: "We might have one or two little stunts here and there." And in further laughing gas news,an entire ward of midwifes are under a cloud of suspicion for enjoying nitrous oxide parties at woolongong hospital,NSW.Prince charlie big ears had a starters pistol fired at him once in Sydney and an egg thrown at him (by yours truly) in Melb.His demented dad copped a tomato in tassie and PM keating once grabbed the royal elbow.The fag ends of the aristocracy are always welcome down under.M.A.M.
participants (1)
-
mattd