Police list 'Occupy' movement alongside al Queda

[Paul Mobbs]

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Hmmn, softening up opinion for when they have a crack down on protest in the 
new year? :-(

The proported document is on-line at http://twitpic.com/7nu4b2


P.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/dec/05/occupy-london-police-terrorism-
document

Occupy London's anger over police 'terrorism' document

A notice sent out to businesses in the City of London has listed the protest 
movement among groups such as al-Qaida and Farc

Shiv Malik, Guardian On-line, Monday 5th December 2011


Police have angered Occupy London activists after listing the movement among 
terrorist groups in an advisory notice sent to the business community in the 
City.

The document issued by City of London police, headed "Terrorism/extremism 
update for the City of London business community", included a detailed account 
of recent and upcoming Occupy London activities and was sent to "trusted 
partners" in the area.

The document, dated 2 December, which was passed on to Occupy London's 
Finsbury square encampment over the weekend by a local business owner, gave an 
update on foreign terrorist activities including that of Farc in Columbia, al-
Qaida in Pakistan and the outcome of a trial into the Minsk bombing in 
Belarus.

Below that, a section headed "Domestic" was dedicated wholly to the activities 
of the Occupy encampments and singled out anti-capitalists as a cause for 
concern.

"As the worldwide Occupy movement shows no sign of abating, it is likely that 
activists aspire to identify other locations to occupy, especially those they 
identify with capitalism."

The document stated that police had "received a number of hostile 
reconnaissance reports concerning individuals who would fit the anti-capitalist 
profile", and asked businesses to be vigilant for further sign of occupation 
activity.

It also said that the number of protesters present at the camp remained 
"fairly consistent" but that demonstrations originating from the camp had 
"decreased and lacked the support and momentum of earlier actions".

The City of London police have as yet been unwilling to reveal how many 
businesses were included on the mailing but their list is thought to include 
large multinationals and banks.

A City of London police source admitted that the "title of the document was 
not helpful" and denied that it labelled or intended to label the Occupy 
movement as equivalent to al-Qaida.

An activist from the camp called the document "vulgar" and said Occupy London 
had met Church of England representatives many times in the past and were 
meeting the Financial Services Authority, which regulates banking activity in 
the UK, on Monday.

A statement from the Occupy London camp said: "The reference to 'suspected 
activists' seems to demonstrate a disturbing loss of perspective.

"Activism is not a crime and the desire to participate in democratic decision-
making should not be a cause for concern for the police in any free society.

"An institution that confuses active citizens with criminals and equates al-
Qaida with efforts to re-imagine the City is an institution in grave danger of 
losing its way."

Asked about the document, the City of London police said their community 
policing methods had been praised.

A spokesman added: "City of London police works with the community to deter 
and detect terrorist activity and crime in the City in a way that has been 
identified nationally as good practice.

"We've seen crime linked to protests in recent weeks, notably around groups 
entering office buildings, and with that in mind we continue to brief key 
trusted partners on activity linked to protests."


- -- 

.

"We are not for names, nor men, nor titles of Government,
nor are we for this party nor against the other but we are
for justice and mercy and truth and peace and true freedom,
that these may be exalted in our nation, and that goodness,
righteousness, meekness, temperance, peace and unity with
God, and with one another, that these things may abound."
(Edward Burrough, 1659 - from 'Quaker Faith and Practice')

Paul's book, "Energy Beyond Oil", is out now!
For details see http://www.fraw.org.uk/mei/ebo/

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Paul Mobbs, Mobbs' Environmental Investigations
3 Grosvenor Road, Banbury OX16 5HN, England
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