Alert after threats of G20 mayhem

SCOTLAND Yard is bracing itself for ‘unprecedented’ levels of protest at next week’s G20 summit.

STEPHENSON Expecting a backlash STEPHENSON: Expecting a backlash

Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson warned that the scale of the anti-capitalism protests would stretch his force to the limit.

Fears of bloodshed at the demonstrations escalated yesterday as anarchists used murderous images to spread a message of hate.

They issued posters of shamed banker Sir Fred Goodwin being guillotined and boasted of plans to hang effigies of financiers – and joked chillingly that there may be “real bankers” strung up from lamp posts.

Bankers due to work through next week’s protests were told to “dress down” or work from home to avoid being targeted by protestors.

The operation will involve 2,500 officers and cost £7million.

Sir Paul said: “This will be one of, if not the most, challenging and complex operations we have ever had to deal with. There is an unprecedented level of protest planned.”

Officers from many forces have been drafted in for the demonstrations tomorrow and next Wednesday and Thursday when the summit begins. Twenty world leaders, including Barack Obama, and up to 1,000 delegates, will attend at the ExCel centre in Docklands.

Chris Knight, one of the protest’s ringleaders, said yesterday that among hundreds of effigies hung from lamp posts would be that of former RBS chief Sir Fred. The 66-year-old anthropology professor added: “If he winds us up any more I’m afraid there will be real bankers hanging from lamp posts and let’s hope that doesn’t have to happen.”

Comments Unavailable

Sorry, we are unable to accept comments about this article at the moment. However, you will find some great articles which you can comment on right now in our Comment section.

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?