London braces for May Day riots

London, April 30: POLICE may fire rubber bullets if anarchists run amok in May Day protests, the chairman of London’s police authority warned on Monday.

With 10,000 demonstrators set to descend on London, police have mounted one of the biggest security operations ever seen in the British capital and vowed to show ‘‘zero tolerance’’ towards rioters who cause mayhem on Tuesday.

Rubber bullets were used to quell riots in northern Ireland’s 30 years of sectarian strife but have never been employed by police on the British mainland who are not normally armed.

Lord Harris, chairman of the Metropolitan Police authority, warned on Monday: ‘‘In extreme circumstances the police have that power.’’ But he did tell BBC Radio: ‘‘It would only be under the most dire circumstances where it was thought perhaps that lives were at risk.’’ Asked if the threat to use rubber bullets might be a ‘‘red rag’’ that heightens tension, he said: ‘‘It is a warning to people that the police are taking this extremely seriously.’’

The anarchists, who plan a string of demonstrations across London that could turn into potential flashpoints, accused the police of over-reacting. Mark, a spokesman for the group ‘Reclaim The Streets,’ said the protestors will not get fair treatment. ‘‘No doubt they are going to feel scared and intimidated,’’ he told BBC Radio.

‘‘The police have been brainwashed to think there is going to be loads of violent anarchists — as they put it — causing widespread trouble and disruption. It is a complete fabrication and untruth. The only antagonism there is likely to be is from the police,’’ he added.

All police leave have been cancelled and more than 6,000 officers are being deployed across London, which could also be hit by a series of threatened hoax bomb calls designed to stretch their resources to the limit. Metropolitan Assistant Police Commissioner Michael Todd said: ‘‘We will be highly visible on the streets of London and anyone committing a crime will be held to account. I am absolutely clear about that.’’

Meanwhile, family doctors will be closing their doors to patients in a one-day protest against what they say are intolerable working conditions and a crisis in healthcare. (REUTERS)