Morning:
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City prepares for violence
Jack Lefley30 Mar 2009
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."
Reader views (7)
Working bang in the middle of the city, the "riots" were nothing more than a band of the "great unwashed" being obnoxious and ill informed as ever!
I've seen more trouble at a Watford v L*ton game. Pathetic.
- Lionel Mandrake, North Herts, 07/04/2009 13:53
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Mark - you speak wise words. How many "bandwagon" protesters will be coming out tomorrow I wonder. More to the point how many have been made redundant and how many just "don't work". I agree, get a job, stop whinging and if you want to do something constructive go and do an economics degree, it is the only way anyone will be able to fuel a proper argument against this "crisis".
If anyone has two strands of intelligence, I'd take a look at some of the past financial crises, 1929, 1980's 1990's and I'd start stock picking 
- Mr Tiel, London, 31/03/2009 15:54
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This is another example of how out of touch these silly little people are with reality.If they think that rioting and attacking people and property is a way to get the world to sit up and take notice then i have to say whoever you are you are obviously not motivated by any logical ideals and you are in the same league as terrorists.Nothing you do will ever amount to anything like change in this world, go have a wash ,get a job and support your countries you idiots.
- MARK, reading, 30/03/2009 16:43
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What? Where am I gonna spend my bonus if all the stupid restaurants are boarded up? Brown has really blown it, this time.
- john problem, Hackney Wick, London, UK, 30/03/2009 16:40
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Allegedly Wolfie and Shirley have reformed the "Tooting Popular Front"!
- Michael, London, 30/03/2009 16:07
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What ever these people do it wont cost us 100s of millions as the boys in the suits have cost this country.
- Kev, London-UK, 30/03/2009 15:13
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The Wombles have reformed?! Surely that's a good thing as we will need somebody to clear up the mess after all these soap dodgers have gone back home to mummy and daddy.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 30/03/2009 12:43
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