01/05/2003

Relative calm during London May Day protests

Despite fears of disruption in this year's May Day demonstration, the march has progressed in a relatively peaceful manner this afternoon.

The most serious disorder broke out around the headquarters of weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin where 20 people, out of a group of around 200, tried to break through police lines. There are no reports of any arrests and the situation is being contained.

London had been bracing itself, with tens of thousands of anti-capitalism marchers expected to sweep into the capital's financial and commercial centres. And a repeat of the scenes last year in which 54 people were detained.

May Day 2003 organisers had targeted over 50 sites to mount protests, beginning at 10.30am this morning and ending late tonight. One protest organiser billed the march as a "pre-emptive strike" against the "real weapons of mass destruction" – that is, oil companies, arms manufacturers, multinationals corporations and banks.

Police have been advising people to expect disruption to transport, commerce and retail businesses and "potential disorder".

A Met spokesperson said: "We will have a policing operation in place with sufficient resources to be able to deal with whatever it occurs."

Police have developed a certain amount of expertise in dealing with anarchist/anti-globalisation marches, and more than 4,000 officers are currently on duty in the capital.

(GMCG)

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