Left-wing activists are planning mass French-style protests, with several radical groups calling for a “day of action” across London on November 20.
Pro-Palestine groups have combined forces with other left-wing organisations to urge students to “mobilise” in Trafalgar Square.
The event is spearheaded by International Youth Strike and is coordinated with protests across Europe.
The call comes after violent unrest in France, where half a million people took to the streets in a national day of demonstrations against the cost of living and rising fuel prices. One protester died during the French riots, which saw historic buildings torched and shops looted, with Emmanuel Macron pledging to “punish” any vandals.
It has sparked fears that the riots that have unfolded in Europe could spread to the UK, with the Conservatives warning the protest could “unleash anarchy”.
While some comments on the social media posts organising the London action said they were hoping for a peaceful protest, others appeared to call for France-style chaos. One user wrote: “Polite British get nowhere fast how we are. Hit them where it hurts or take what they continue to dish out.”
Reform UK’s policing and crime adviser Colin Sutton said: “Britain has already seen what happens when the authorities go soft on organised disorder so we fully expect the Metropolitan Police to take a firm, no-nonsense approach. That means anyone who breaks the law should face the full consequences.”
The Metropolitan Police has been approached for comment.
The planned day of action lands in an already tense autumn for the capital. Police are also dealing with a murder inquiry after a fatal shooting in Enfield, while transport disruption is set to affect thousands of commuters next week.
Whether November 20 passes off peacefully or turns confrontational will be a major test for the Met — and for London’s tradition of protest.
