Second G20 assault spurs MetPol inquiry

The Independents Police Complaints Commission [IPCC] are to investigate an alleged assault on a young female by a police officer at G20 protests in London. The incident has prompted inquiries into police procedures as well as the behaviour of some officers.

Footage shows assault

Video footage has emerged which shows the officer striking the protester about the face before hitting her on the leg with his baton [You Tube]. During the incident the protester is heard to shout obscenities at the police apparently in anger at another demonstrator who was pushed by other officers [BBC / Sky News / This is London].

Second investigation by IPCC

The incident is the second such accusation of police brutality. The IPCC are already investigating an assault on Ian Tomlinson a newspaper seller who was pushed to the ground by a police officer as he walked through the city on 1st April. Tomlinson later died from a heart attack.

The following day many protesters had gathered in the city some expressing anger at the death of Ian Tomlinson. Many were contained by cordons of police in an procedure known as kettling. The controversial crowd control method has been criticised as being inhumane.

Police methods criticised

Speaking on Sky News recently, former Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Brian Paddock described the procedure as a “tried and tested method” of crowd control. However some believe kettling only serves to antagonise a potentially volatile gathering of protesters. There are also issues of human rights with some pointing out the problems arising after several hours without food, water or toilet facilities. The containment method also appears to be counter to Article 5 of the Human Rights Act which sets out the right not to be deprived of liberty except in five well-defined exceptions. The exceptions concern detention to effect a lawful arrest or compliance with a court order, detention of a child who is unsupervised or of a person in breach of immigration rules, or "the lawful detention of persons for the prevention of the spreading of infectious diseases, of persons of unsound mind, alcoholics or drug addicts or vagrants" [Guardian].

Containment tactics were first used over a long period of time on 1 May 2001 when an anti-capitalist protest at Oxford Circus was corralled by the police for seven hours in bad weather and with no access to toilet facilities.

On 1st April some groups of protesters were contained for more than seven hours. And it wasn’t just supposed violent or unruly protesters who were kettled in. One peaceful protester complained to Sky News that she had been prevented from leaving despite explaining she needed to return home to pick up her child from school. Even members of the press found themselves unable to escape. Journalists not holding a UK press card found themselves in the same predicament as the demonstrators. “My colleagues from China couldn’t get out,” one journalist told tvnewswatch. “I managed to get out by showing my press card but they only had Chinese press cards” Ma, who works for a news agency, said.

Tom Brake, Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton & Wallington, writing in the Times said that even British journalists were not allowed to leave despite offering legitimate credentials and contact information [The Times].

Eventually people were released but only after complying to “police requests” for name, address and a submission to being photographed. Amongst protesters the tactic is widely believed to dissuade people from attending future demonstrations and effectively stifle the right to democratic protest [Guardian].

Officers suspended as police launch review

Both officers involved in the two IPCC investigations have been suspended and now the Metropolitan Police has said it is to review its kettling policy. “A number of complaints have been raised in relation to the tactic of containment" Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said today. He said that he has asked Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary to review policing tactics [BBC]. It remains to be seen what the findings might be given that the House of Lords have previously rejected claims to compensation by demonstrators kettled in during the 2001 protests. The Lords ruled that the police had behaved lawfully on that occasion.

IPCC to investigate G20 protest death

The Metropolitan Police will be once again attempting to defend their actions and an apparent tissue of lies after footage released tonight showed police officers pushing a man to the floor who later died of a heart attack. Ian Tomlinson had been returning from work as a newspaper vendor outside Monument station on the day of the G20 protests when he was violently pushed to the floor. Protesters at the scene attended to the man and he walked away dazed. He collapsed moments later and died of a heart attack despite a swift response from police paramedics.

Various reports emerged from the police that evening. In the Gold control room there were suggestions the man had been a vagrant or homeless, and that he had been drinking. It was also widely circulated that Mr Tomlinson had taken part in the protests.

His death was breaking news at around 10 pm on Wednesday night on both Sky News and the BBC. Both channels quoted the Metropolitan Police saying that a man had died after “collapsing in the street”. Police later said they had at no point made contact with the man. Though some of the officers may not have known the man pushed to the ground was to be the man who died.

Pictures published later however brought forward many witnesses after they recognised the man in the picture and have reported the earlier incident to the IPCC [Independent Police Complaints Commission].

Yesterday the Guardian ran a story in which they suggested that Ian Tomlinson had been assaulted. Photographer Anna Branthwaite told the paper, "I can remember seeing Ian Tomlinson. He was rushed from behind by a riot officer with a helmet and shield two or three minutes before he collapsed." Branthwaite, an experienced press photographer, has made a statement to the IPCC as have several others. A female protester, who did not want to be named but has given her testimony to the IPCC, said she saw a man she later recognised as Tomlinson being pushed aggressively from behind by officers. "I saw a man violently propelled forward, as though he'd been flung by the arm, and fall forward on his head. He hit the top front area of his head on the pavement. I noticed his fall particularly because it struck me as a horrifically forceful push by a policeman and an especially hard fall; it made me wince."

On BBC Radio 4’ PM programme Tomlinson’s son Paul King called for witnesses to come forward so the family could learn the truth behind his fathers death. He said the family was “devastated” by Ian’s death and described him as a “lovely father”. The Guardian article and radio report has now brought further eyewitness reports and video evidence which not only refute police claims but may bring possible charges if the IPCC find that the apparent assault on Mr Tomlinson resulted in his subsequent heart attack [Sky News / BBC / Guardian]

Obama "optimistic" at G20 result

President Barack Obama: "confident and optimistic"

Appearing before journalists following the G20 Summit U.S. President Barack Obama said the meeting was “productive" and “historic”. There was no real sense of excitement as hundreds of journalists waited for the leader to give his thoughts on the outcome. Many were tired after a long day and it was, after all a repeat of what Gordon Brown had already said.

However, Obama was nonetheless the star of the show, exuding a sense of charisma not seen in other G20 leaders. Stepping onto the stage some 40 minutes later than expected, Obama said he was generally confident and optimistic in what had been achieved.

"By any measure the London Summit was historic,” he told the news conference, “not only because of the size and scope of the challenges we face, but also because of the timeliness and magnitude of our response."

"The challenge is clear, and the global economy is retracting," he declared, but said the world was now at the "turning point of our economic and global recovery."

"Today the world's leader have responded with a set of unprecedented and coordinated actions," Obama told reporters.

There was, he said a strong consensus in rejecting protectionism. "History tells us that turning inward can help turn a downturn into a depression" Obama said, declaring that the agreements reached signalled support for open markets. "Today we have learnt the lessons of history and we are committed to growth and job creation," Obama said

He said that there had been agreements on facilitating "bold action to help developing countries" and injecting huge sums into the IMF to help struggling economies. "In an age where our economies are more closely linked than ever before, the whole world is touched by this devastating downturn," Obama said.

The president then made a pledge to help those most vulnerable in the world. Obama saying he would seek authority from the U.S congress to enable 448 million dollars to be diverted into helping Africa's poor as well as those in Latin America. But he insisted this was not charity. It was, he said, an effort to help what he called "future markets" that would one day drive economic growth.

Turning to the importance if implementing a better regulatory system, Barack Obama said, "We must put an end to bust and bubble economic policies," adding that risk taking which had been so harmful to the economy must end. He and the G20 partners had also agreed to greater transparency and said new regulations would be applied to hedge funds and tax havens.

The President did concede that bringing together 20 nations and making a deal was not easy. “Each country has its own non-negotiable issues,” he said, and added that more work may yet need to be done.

"This is not a panacea but it is a critical step," he declared, "But we may have to take additional steps until we get it right." It was hard to bridge differences, Obama said, and not everything was solved. He therefore welcomed another meeting scheduled for late 2009. He said that the summit had however achieved a great deal, partly he said due to the hard work that Gordon Brown had put in to organise the meeting.

"America is a critical actor and leader on the world stage," he said boastfully, but, he added, "We may not always have the best answer" to the problems the world faces. "The proof of the pudding is in the eating."

While in general there was strong consensus, there did appear to be some conflicts of policy. In an apparent comment at Gordon Brown comments at attempting to stop the rampant bonus culture seen in Britain, Obama said, "We don't want the state dictating salaries." But he added that there must be more accountability.

There are no guarantees in life or economics, Obama said but insisted the steps in the communiqué were necessary.

In his final summing up Barack Obama was thoughtful and philosophical. He even joked with reporters during the Q&A that followed. But he also spoke as a true statesman, with confidence and with optimism.

"Ultimately the challenges of the 21st century cannot be met without collective action. Agreement will almost never be easy, and result will not always come easy. But I am committed to respecting different points of view and to forging a consensus instead of dictating our terms. That's how we made progress in the last few days and that's how we will advance the deals in the months and years to come."

"In a world that's more and more interconnected we all have responsibilities to work together to solve common challenges. And although it will take time, I am confident that we will rebuild global prosperity if we act with a common sense of purpose, persistence and the optimism that the moment demands."

Gordon Brown's 'new world order'

Brown addresses journalists after the G20 Summit

In a press conference to assembled journalists at the G20 Summit, Prime Minister Gordon Brown laid out the agreements that had been made by the G20 leaders. It was in effect long on rhetoric and short on detail. But he made clear that the proposals set forward were an attempt to rewrite the rules of capitalism.

"This is the day that the world came together to fight back against the global recession not with words but with a plan for global recovery," Gordon Brown said in is opening remarks.
He was clear that such an economic crisis that the world is currently facing must not be allowed to happen again and set out the key points that had been agreed upon. In a move that would have pleased French President Nicholas Sarkozy and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel he announced measures to deal with what he called the shadow banking system.

"We have agreed there will be an end to tax havens that do not transfer information on request," Brown said, and insisted that "The banking secrecy of the past must come to an end."

In his much repeated phrase he said that the global problems required global solutions, but said that the G20 leaders were committed to solving the crisis. "Today we have reached a new consensus, to deal with the problems we face, [and] do what is necessary to restore growth and jobs," Brown said after the four hour summit.

In order to achieve this goal, Prime Minister Brown announced six pledges which had been agreed upon.

The reformation of the global banking system was high on the agenda and the Prime Minister laid out several points which were to be addressed. He said that international accounting standards would have to be set and that there would need to be tighter regulation with regards hedge funds and tax havens. "We have agreed there will be an end to tax havens that do not transfer information on request," Brown said. He said there had also been agreement to impose tough standards and sanctions for those who did not comply. This was all part of a plan to encourage corporate responsibility throughout the globe. "We will implement new rules on pay and bonuses at a global level that reflect actual performance with no more rewards for failure," Brown added.

There were also proposals to spend huge amounts of money. "We are in the middle of an unprecedented fiscal expansion which will by the end of next year amount to an injection of five trillion dollars into our economies," Brown said. It was necessary, he insisted and said it would save and create millions of jobs.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown went on to announce further injections of cash. "We have also agreed today additional resources of one trillion dollars that are available to the world economy through the International Monetary Fund and other institutions," he said.

These funds would act as an 'insurance policy' for struggling economies, according to John Lipsky, the First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund. The money would be made available in what the IMF calls a flexible credit line.

Talking to media on Thursday, Lipsky said the money would be used as part of "a new and innovative facility designed to provide crisis prevention support to countries that have good, strong policies, and economic fundamentals as well as a good track record of implementing solid economic and financial policies, but who could potentially be threatened by external developments by international financial market turmoil."

One such beneficiary might be Mexico who have already made representations. John Lipsky said he had already spoken with Mexico's finance minister, Agustin Carstens, and said he was seeking approval from the IMF's executive board to push through the proposal.

"Mexico has strong fundamentals," Lipsky told reporters, "they have a solid policy framework and a good track record of implementing policies." But he said, while Mexican authorities have indicated they don't intend to use the funds, it should be seen as "a kind of insurance policy; to armourplate the situation."

Several nations have already committed vast sums to the initiative. Lipsky said that Japan had agreed to provide 100 billion dollars, while the European Union has promised some 100 billion. In addition he said the U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geitner had spoken of providing an additional 500 billion.

As well as injecting money into emerging economies, some money may even filter into struggling Western economies.

Gordon Brown did not hint as to whether Britain would be joining the queue for a hand out. Instead he continued in laying out the role the IMF would play in helping to pull the world out of recession. He said the injection plan would increase global confidence and said that the International Monetary Fund would be called upon "to monitor our progress ... and to report on whatever further actions maybe necessary.”

It was important too that emerging markets and developing countries were given a greater voice and greater representation, Brown said and he promised that such nations would not be forgotten.

As Brown wrapped up his 20 minute address he spoke of his hope for the future. “I think a new world order is emerging and with it a new and progressive era of international cooperation.” It remains to be seen what cooperation materializes in the coming months.

G20 - "long, boring & an anti-climax"

Journalists at the start of a long day at the G20 Summit

It was a long day at the ExCel Centre. For journalists and photographers it was longer. The gathering of politicians perhaps had an easier time, even if the weight of the global economic crisis was sitting firmly on their shoulders.

The G20 leaders arrived in London on Wednesday as thousands protested against capitalism, bankers and the government. But few if any saw nor heard the calls for change. US President Barack Obama was one of the first to arrive, touching down in Airforce One at London’s Stansted airport amid high security. News channels were particularly focused on his arrival while other leaders’ arrivals were virtually ignored.

Obama spent Wednesday meeting with Gordon Brown giving a press conference where he asserted his commitment to solving the economic crisis and affirming that the special relationship between the US and Britain was as strong as ever. On leaving he went on to meet with Russian President Dimitri Medvedev to talk about issues of security ahead of the NATO summit. Meanwhile media speculation grew over whether French President Nicholas Sarkozy would even attend after it was revealed that he was apparently unhappy that certain issues were not being discussed at the summit. He and Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel gave a joint press conference later in the day which at least clarified the two leaders were committed to the process.

To watch the entire conference one would have had to tune into Euronews since both the BBC and Sky, who had waited patiently to bring the event to viewers, cut away almost immediately as they had no translation. The Euronews translator was rather whimsical, especially in his description of a French newspaper journalist’s question. “Actually there are so many questions in his question it is hard to know how they [Sarkozy and Merkel] are going to answer,” the translator said. Sarkozy, responded eventually with apparent sarcasm to the journalist’s diatribe.

And there was a certain amount of ridicule in the way Sarkozy was treated by the media. His arrival at Downing Street for the so-called working dinner, a supposed 10 minutes late, was criticised by both Sky and the BBC as being a snub.

The details of what was discussed as the munched through smoked salmon, lamb and Bakewell tart and custard, was not revealed. But there was widespread discussion in the papers as to the seating arrangement. President Hu Jiantao was sat next to Gordon Brown looking somewhat bewildered. He’d have perhaps been better placed next to Australian PM Kevin Rudd where he could have at least chatted about the weather. Rudd of course speaks relatively fluent Mandarin. Sarkozy was not seen in the pictures and it was joked on the Sky News paper review that he may have been served in the kitchen because of his late arrival. As for the wine, French, Italian, Spanish Californian? Nobody knows.

On Thursday the cavalcades of security carried the G20 leaders to London’s Docklands for their final get together. There were some 200 protesters, but they had been kept well back from the ExCel Centre in a so called “designated protest area”. The last time that phrase was used it was in connection with the Beijing Olympics. Though the media did not equate the corralled nature of the protests to the stifled way protests are handled in less democratic countries. Protestors also gathered at the Bank of England, but the numbers were far smaller than seen on the Wednesday. A minutes silence was observed for a male protester in his 50s who died in the early evening of Wednesday. The circumstances of his death are unknown but there was anger expressed towards police with some saying that they had failed to attend to the man quickly enough.

Back at the ExCel Centre journalists, photographers and television crews gathered in a large hall awaiting communiqués arising from the G20 Summit discussions. Representatives from government and institutions paraded around the room giving interviews. Amongst them was British Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling and a rather bored Sir Bob Geldoff.
The G20 leaders meanwhile posed for the family photograph. That in itself proved troublesome with some of the contingent going AWOL. First the Canadian PM Stephen Harper disappeared, apparently on a call of nature. After his return, it was the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi who was absent. But on the third attempt they managed to assemble for the picture.
After four hours of discussion the press waited for the release of the final communiqué and addresses from Brown, Sarkozy and Obama. All leaders were late in giving their speeches and their was a further souring of protocol as Sarkozy and Brown gave their speeches at the same time. No sooner than President Sarkozy had said bonjour, than PM Gordon Brown sauntered onto the stage in another part of the centre to deliver his speech. As such their was little coverage of the Frenchman’s delivery as Sky, the BBC and CNN all cut to the British PM.
In his 1,500 word address Brown said there had been a strong consensus from the G20 members and that this was the fist step in solving the global economic crisis. In his dry and wordy speech Brown said an unprecedented era of international cooperation had begun. “I think a new world order is emerging and with it a new and progressive era of international cooperation,” Brown said.

Obama was far more inspiring with his delivery. Confident, optimistic and even witty he delivered his address like a true statesman. For the media, Obama stole the show. British media of course paid lip service to the speech made by Brown, but it was the US President and his glamorous wife that became the focus of attention these last few days.

As the last journalists packed up their laptops and left the ExCel Centre, many were too tired and weary to make any clear assessment of the day’s proceedings. Many had been focused on getting out their stories about what was said and by whom. “I thought it was a bit of an anti-climax,” one Chinese reporter told tvnewswatch, “What does it all mean at the end of the day?” It will take sometime to absorb what effects the G20 will have, and if the Summit’s proposals will solve the economic crisis. But that will be reported on another day.

Protests fail to rattle G20 leaders

It was billed as a potential riot in the making, but for the most part the protests against the G20 did not bring the chaos that had been much hyped in the media. The so called anti-capitalist protests brought some disruption to London’s financial centre yesterday but heavy policing kept violence to a minimum. However, what started out as a carnival ended in tragedy with several injuries and one protester dead.

Four effigies led separate processions to the financial heart of London at around midday. Amongst the crowds were protesters dressed as bankers, others as the devil and the grim reaper. A large effigy of a dead canary, representing Canary Wharf, was carried to the steps of the Bank of England as a band blasted out some music on trumpets and trombones. The voice of dissatisfaction with the government and the banking system was clear. Banners and placards spoke volumes. Amongst them were calls to “Eat the Bankers”, “Smash Capitalism” and a declaration claiming that “Capitalism Isn’t Working”.

As the numbers swelled to an estimated 4,000 people police began to create cordons, blocking several roads and trying to split off one part of the crowd from others. These became the focus fore anarchists and the more militant demonstrators who began to taunt the police. The inevitable clashes soon occurred an one police officer was struck on the head by one protester holding a large pole. Crowds eventually gathered outside a branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland, the bank which has been the subject of much criticism following the departure of Sir Fred and his £700,000 a year pension.

It wasn’t long before windows were smashed and several protesters entered the building. As the half a dozen of so members of the crowd attacked the bank surrounding them were dozens of others recording the event with cameras. There were camera phones, compact digital cameras and video cameras held aloft all trying to capture the action. This wasn’t so much a riot than a piece of street theatre. The BBC’s Ben Brown broadcasting Live pictures from a nearby vantage point said that it seemed those perpetrating the attack were a small minority and that around a third seemed to be only interested in taking pictures which another third were merely gathering to watch the spectacle.

Indeed this is what the much talked about ‘riot had become. There was nor riot to speak of. Any attempt of revolution had dissolved into a few sporadic incidents filmed by a thousand cameras.

French Marxist theorist and Situationist once wrote that modern life had become an event that was merely observed rather than experienced. In his book Society of the Spectacle he claimed that life had become “an immense accumulation of spectacles” and that “everything that was directly lived” had “moved away into representation”. Nothing was more true than the scenes that could be seen unfolding in the streets of London yesterday. Direct action had been replaced by so-called ‘Blackberry revolutionaries’ who were spending much of their time Twittering and blogging. It was perhaps epitomised by the arrival of celebrity comedian Russell Brand who told a throng of photographers and news media that he had come to “see what was going on”. It was a far cry from the protests seen in 1984 when more than 2,000 anarchists descended on the financial heart of London to Stop the City or the so called Poll Tax Riot in the early 1990s.
Having made their point the majority of demonstrators drifted away from the city by late afternoon. But some remained, hemmed in by cordons of police. Many complained that they weren’t being allowed to leave. Tired and frustrated several hundred protestors remained outside the Bank of England as hundreds more police gathered around them.

There had throughout the day been several reports of injuries with both police and demonstrators being hospitalised. But at around 10 pm it emerged that one demonstrator had died. The circumstances where unclear, but it is reported that the man has collapsed and fallen unconscious in St Michael’s Alley, close to the Bank of England. Police paramedics, who say they were pelted with missiles while they treated the individual, placed him in the hands of Ambulance personnel who conveyed him to hospital. However the man was pronounced dead upon arrival.

A Climate Change camp outside Liverpool Street station was relatively peaceful throughout the day. But as darkness fell it became a gathering point for demonstrators who had left the city. There were tense stand-offs between protesters and police which continued until the early hours.

There had been intense media coverage throughout the day with almost constant live broadcasting from the city protests and the climate change camp. But there was minimal coverage of the anti-war coalition march which trailed through the streets from the US Embassy to London’s Trafalgar Square. There were speeches from former mining trade union leader Arthur Scargill, CND’s Bruce Kent and veteran politician Tony Benn. But there were no voices heard on television. During a morning interview Tony Benn had called on Sky News to air the views of protesters and speakers. But other than a sound bites from a few demonstrators on the ground, the only message conveyed was one of a large crowd determined to cause disruption.
Despite the protest and the damage to RBS, the effect on the markets was minimal. Although some city workers had ‘dressed down’ and others inconvenienced as they were unable to exit their building for a cigarette or a lunchtime sandwich, the markets actually rose and it was pretty much business as usual. CNN’s business correspondent said that the protestors had affected the smaller businesses who were “just trying to eek out a living”, the types of people whom they claimed to be representing. “This is a side show” Todd Benjamin said.

The sideshow has today moved to London’s Docklands. But the protest today is far smaller than that seen in London yesterday. Only around 200 protesters were present by lunchtime. “Well anarchists don’t wake up early do they?” one police officer told reporters. Many may stay at home given that the protest area is being kept more than half a kilometre away from where the G20 leaders are gathering to “save the world”.

Obama "to the rescue" as protests begin

Six protestors arrested driving an armoured vehicle

Barack Obama flew into Britain yesterday amid high security and under an intense media glare. There is anticipation that the US president will provide the impetus to help kick start the world economy as he joins 19 other state leaders at the G20 Summit. But it will take more than one man to pull the world out of its current downturn. There needs to be consensus amongst the other nineteen G20 leaders.

The French President Nicholas Sarkozy has already expressed his doubts and even said he may not sign any resolutions if they did not meet up to his expectations. There is already finger pointing with France and Germany accusing America of creating the financial crisis. And even Gordon Brown has made statements to the same effect, though he has backtracked since.
Speaking at the Foreign Office today the US President said, “I don’t want to identify blame I want to fix the problem”. He went on to quote a law professor who once taught him about responsibility versus blame. “Some are to blame, but all are responsible,” Obama said, adding that it was important for everyone to sit down together to solve the economic crisis.
Gordon Brown has continuously referred to the global problems requiring global solutions. And he echoed Obama’s stand that all the G20 countries should work together. “We must stand united to do what’s necessary,” Brown told assembled journalists.

There are fears that the G20 leaders will fail to meet consensus as there are too many vested interests. China is seeking to boost its export market as its projected growth drops below 8% and the numbers of unemployed soar above 20 million. But many Western countries may adopt protectionist policies, even if indirectly. Across Europe unemployment has grown significantly in the past few months and many countries in the Eurozone have fallen into recession. It has resulted in a fall in consumerism as people take a tighter hold on their expenditure.
There is a growing feeling that it is unlikely that any resolution will come together in the less than 36 hours during which the G20 leaders will come together. Indeed a larger proportion of time will be taken up with lunches and photo calls, leaving very little time for discussion.
The lack of faith in the G20 and increasing anger towards bankers and the government has encouraged many to take to the streets. On Saturday tens of thousands marched through London airing their grievances. And today hundreds of demonstrators have begun to converge on the capital.

There has been much media speculation that the protests may turn violent. But by noon most of the demonstrations had been lively but good natured. The occupants of an armoured vehicle were arrested after they drove into the financial centre. Six people were detained by police according to reports, and the blue ‘tank’ was impounded. Sky News also reported that three protestors had been arrested for possession of knives while another had been detained after assaulting a police officer.

Terrorism and protests threaten G20

More than 30,000 protesters took to London’s streets on Saturday ahead of the G20 Summit scheduled for next week. Numbers were far fewer than expected with many being put off by cold, wet and windy conditions. Those that did join the procession were vocal in their protest which took them past Parliament to a rally in Hyde Park.

Dozens of different groups were represented under the banner of “Put People First”. Environmental groups were joined by anti-capitalists and anarchists. There were also church groups and those opposed to nuclear proliferation. The mixed messages were reflected by the sea of differing placards suggesting that “capitalism isn’t working” to a call for “Jobs not Bombs”.
The protest was the top story on both the BBC and Sky News though coverage remained scant. Policing was low profile and there was no sign of violence which some media reports suggested might occur.

The picture may well change next week when hundreds of anti-capitalist protestors are expected to descend on the City. With calls to “storm the banks” and “eat the bankers” anarchists and other groups are expected to try and create widespread disruption. However, some anarchists have claimed that while they want to disrupt the G20 Summit and the workings of the City, it was not their intention to be violent. Daisy, 19, an anarchist behind some of the literature told the Guardian, "This is politics. We're using symbols of oppression in an artistic way. It doesn't make us terrorists."

But the police are treating the threats of violence far more seriously. City workers have been told to “dress down” and even to leave expensive cars at home [Daily Mail / City of London Police]. The Metropolitan Police are also well prepared. Plans have been drawn up, police overtime has been cancelled and 3,000 extra police have been drafted in from other forces. All this is costing the British tax payer an estimated £7 million [Guardian].

Most of the concern in the build up to the G20 surrounds the potentially violent protests. There has been little or no discussion as to a potential terrorist attack. According to the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, there is no specific terrorist threat aimed at disrupting the G20 Summit. However, the terror threat remains “severe” and she has conceded that the Summit would be a prime target for terrorists. Large scale demonstrations would act as perfect cover for a terrorist intending to launch a much talked about Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear attack. Such an incident would also create a logistical nightmare for the authorities and security services [BBC / Sky News / CNN].

UK terror threat growing, govt says

"The threat of a serious terrorist attack on Britain has grown"

British Home Secretary has put forward plans to train workers in hotels, airports and supermarkets as part of its ongoing anti-terrorism strategy. During a debate in parliament on Wednesday, Jacqui Smith thanked the hard work already done by the security services in helping to keep Britain safe, “We’ve disrupted more than a dozen terrorist plots in the UK” Jacqui Smith, British Home Secretary, told MPs as she laid out plans to increase the annual anti-terrorism budget to more than £3.5 Billion by 2011. She said the key strategy in fighting terrorism was to Pursue, Prevent, Protect & Prepare. But she insisted that while the government was making every effort to thwart the terrorists, the UK government was “against torture and extra-ordinary rendition”.

Chris Grayling, the Shadow Home Secretary, was supportive of the general effort to battle terrorism but was critical of the implementation of the government’s initiative. He said that anti-terror training of shopping centre staff as part of Project Argus amounted to a 3 hour seminar including a coffee break. The Conservative MP said that some stores he his office had contacted knew nothing about plan except for reports in papers [BBC].

Jacqui Smith was defensive of the project and insisted that 700 programs had been carried out and more than 30,000 individuals had been trained.

She also came under fire for failing to compensate those injured in terrorist attacks abroad. Ian McCartney, a Labour MP, talked of some 200 British citizens who had been killed abroad and more than 150 maimed. Asking why there was no specific compensation for such victims, Jacqui Smith said she understood his impassioned statement and added, “I will talk to colleagues about that”.

The risk from terrorism exists not only abroad, but much is exported back to Britain. Sky News today reported that some 20 extremists had returned to the UK after being trained in Pakistan. Sky said that many more radicalised individuals, possibly hundreds, could be following them. It has prompted US authorities to carry out surveillance on British Muslims living in the UK [Sky News].

The types of attacks that might be perpetrated was mainly focused on CBRNE, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear & Explosive [BBC / Sky News / CNN]. But former Home Secretary David Blunkett raised the risk of a potential cyber-attack. He said that such attacks, seen recently in places like Estonia, could even threaten lives as well as the financial stability of Britain. Jacqui Smith said that the cyber-security was a concern and that there was “work going on in government”.

“We must ensure we are safe in the virtual world as we are in the real world” the Home Secretary added.

Some MPs were concerned as to how the terrorist initiatives were affecting the lives of ordinary people. While Liberal Democrat MP Chris Huhne applauded efforts to thwart terrorism, he asked why citizens were being continually intimidated by police for otherwise law-abiding activities.

Kerry McCarthy, Labour Bristol East, also criticised the arbitrary use of such powers. Smith insisted that “guidance was given to police”. But there is growing anger amongst some members of the public who are seeing their rights eroded. A trainspotter was recently banned from Macclesfield station in Cheshire after Virgin Trains deemed him a security risk [BBC]. Natioanl Express have also put plans in place to ban trainspotters from its East Coast line, again citing security concerns. One disgruntled man told a London paper, "Trainspotters may be seen as a bit odd but we are friends of the railways. We don't smash it up, steal cables or blow ourselves to bits - so why are they picking on us?" [This is London].

The irony is that many such individual may serve as the front line in surveillance. Trainspotters may well be able to give authorities first hand information of suspicious behaviour on the rail network.

The threat comes not only from Pakistan’s training camps but also from terrorist websites. Stewart Jackson, a Conservative MP, questioned the Home Secretary why not one terror website had been shut down despite pledges to do so. Powers outlined in the 2006 anti-terrorism act aimed to shut down such sites. However the Daily Telegraph revealed this week that the government had failed to make any headway in this effort. It remains to be seen what effects the news proposals announced by the government will have in pursuing and preventing those intent on perpetrating such acts.

'Bomb alert' at Gatwick airport was hoax

Passengers have been evacuated from an Emirates plane as police investigate a suspect package. Details are sketchy but Sussex police have told news agencies that they are investigating reports of a suspect package on the plane at London’s Gatwick airport. Reports emerged at around 11:00 GMT, though news channels have been primarily focused on the death of reality TV star Jade Goody. CNN reports that the plane landed at 06.48 GMT following a flight from Dubai and is currently in a holding area.

Update: Police investigating the suspicious package later said the incident was a "hoax". A man in his 20s was arrested following the alert which resulted in 184 passengers being evacuated. The search for a device was instigated after a passenger found a note and alerted authorities [BBC].

Snow causes chaos in Britain

Throughout much of last week it was the continuing economic crisis that dominated the headlines. Protests have threatened to bring Britain to a halt after a serious of wildcat strikes broke out across the country. Oil workers, concerned about their jobs being taken by foreign workers, have walked out [BBC / Sky News]. However it was not the increasing industrial action that stopped England working. Instead, a few centimetres of snow managed to disrupt much of the country creating travel chaos and resulting in millions of pounds being lost as business closed early and many workers being forced to stay at home.

Described as a “heavy dumping of snow” by Sky News, the precipitation caused 1000 miles of traffic jams and closed all of London’s airport. At Heathrow a Cyprus airlines jet slipped from the runway, though no injuries were reported. Along un-gritted roads across the home counties motorists who braved the appalling road conditions found themselves slipping and sliding. Average speeds along many routes dropped to well below 40 km/h [20 mph] causing widespread gridlock. Those taking to public transport were left stranded after all of London’s buses were cancelled and much of the London Underground rail network was also brought to a halt. Shops in many areas were closed adding to Britain’s financial wows. It is estimated the weather may be costing the country in excess of one billion pounds.

For some the day was extremely enjoyable however. Most schools were shut and children took to the parks to build snowmen as others hit the slopes on sledges. At the dry ski-slope in Brentwood, Essex, the scene was more like the Swiss alps as snow gave a realistic feel to the facility. More snow is forecast with a severe weather warning announced by the Met Office [BBC / Sky News].

If the forecast by Punxsutawney Phil is right then winter may be here for another six weeks. “He saw his shadow and went back in,” said Jacqueline Parker, a spokesperson with the Nova Scotia provincial government told reporters. “It’s six more weeks of winter” she added [CTV News].

Today was after all Groundhog Day Groundhog Day. The annual holiday is marked in the United States and Canada. On the occaision a groundhog is used as a measure of weather prediction. If a groundhog emerges from its burrow and fails to see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, winter will soon end. If on the other hand, it is sunny and the groundhog sees its shadow, the groundhog will supposedly retreat into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks. It is an event not observed here in the UK, though the irony may not have been missed by some.

Iraqi doctor guilty of terror attacks

A 29 year old Iraqi doctor has been found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court of launching terrorist bomb attacks in mainland Britain.
Bilal Abdullah and his accomplice had attempted to launch attacks in both London and Glasgow. Kafeel Ahmed and Bilal Abdullah had bought second hand cars and DIY supplies to construct their car bombs. Receipts and CCTV footage showed they had visited several B&Q stores and bought nails and other materials. Police believe they bought at least 5 vehicles to launch their attacks which began with London.

On the 29th June 2007 the two men arrived in the West End of London with their bomb laden cars. One was parked directly outside the Tiger Tiger night club while the other was left a short distance away. But both devices failed to explode and the terrorists fled to Scotland where they prepared for the attack on Glasgow airport. But for the two terrorists it went tragically wrong as they crashed their vehicle into the terminal building on the 30th June. As the vehicle became engulfed in flames Kafeel Ahmed himself caught fire and later died from his injuries. Bilal Abdullah survived to face trial and faces a life sentence in prison.

Karen Jones of the CPS said people at the airport and in London were lucky the bombs did not explode properly. She said the men’s intention was to kill and maim as many people as possible. However their incompetence saved many people’s lives. Dr Sidney Alford, an explosives engineer, speaking to the BBC described the terrorists’ bomb making skills as “amateurish” [BBC / CNN]. Another NHS doctor, Mohammed Asha, was cleared of helping the two terrorists.