Climate camp activists set to swoop

Aug 26 2009

Thousands of green activists are making their final preparations to swoop on a secret location for a week-long camp.

Up to 3,000 people are expected to join the climate camp to protest against Government policy and to train for future direct action.

Campaigners plan to suddenly gather at an as yet undisclosed grassy location somewhere within the M25 on Wednesday afternoon.

Participants have been asked to sign up for six swoop groups that will begin the day at noon with small-scale protests at key locations.

Protesters on foot will gather outside the head office of BP in London's St James' Square, the Bank of England and Stratford railway station, near the 2012 Olympics site.

Others will meet outside mining company Rio Tinto, in Aldermanbury Square, and Stockwell Tube station, to mark the death of Jean Charles de Menezes.

Meanwhile, cyclists will mass outside the headquarters of Shell on the South Bank, near Waterloo railway station.

A game of cat and mouse will then begin as protesters are directed to the final campsite destination by a series of text messages.

Scotland Yard made a last-minute plea to organisers to tell them where the event will be held. Senior officers said the secret location makes it harder to prepare people for any disruption, to plan a policing operation or to the safeguard campers.

Campaigners have said they still "don't trust police", who they blame for violence, theft, harassment and sleep deprivation during previous climate camp events.