Green activists target business from secret Climate Camp
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Government departments, banks and big businesses were today on alert as thousands of climate change protesters prepare to bring chaos to London.
Activists vowed to converge on a secret site on Wednesday and remain there for a week in this year's biggest environmental demonstration.
But a leaked list of 22 targets, including the Treasury, the Bank of England, Heathrow Airport and energy firms BP and E.ON has emerged, with a "dirty dozen" sites topping the hit list.
The Camp for Climate Action is due to start at noon on Wednesday, when activists will leave 10 meeting points across the capital after being alerted to the destination in a text message.
This is being kept secret from police amid concerns that Scotland Yard will do all it can to disrupt the camp.
The hit list also includes the Business, Transport and Climate Change departments in Westminster, while London City Airport and the Stock Exchange also expect to be targeted.
The decision to keep the Climate Camp secret was branded "irresponsible" by the Met. The location has been disclosed only to a small inner circle of the camp's "land group".
The organisation justified its action by claiming the Government is failing to act on rising global temperatures.
The Met is expected to become involved in a cat-and-mouse pursuit of the 3,000 green protesters as they leave the 10 meeting points then twist and turn across the capital on the way to their main location.
A City of London Police inspector said the Climate Camp would not be in the City. "You're talking about a place where they can stay for four days," he said. "Where would they do it? Not in the City, I can assure you of that."
Tension mounted at previous camps as campaigners blamed police for violence, theft, harassment and sleep deprivation. The death of Ian Tomlinson and continued controversy over police "kettling" tactics still overshadow April's G20 protests in the City.
In an open letter to the Met, campaigners said the best thing police could do was "stay as far away as possible".
Camp activist Peter McDonell said protesters decided not to reveal the location as police could not be trusted.
"Ever since we started climate camps the police have done everything in their power to stop them happening," he said. "We cannot trust them with this information." Campaigners will swoop on a piece of grassland on Wednesday and set up a "community" with shops, workshops and daily events before it ends on 2 September.
A Met spokesman said: "Without advance knowledge it is impossible for us to liaise with a local authority or community or calculate crime risks."
The latest action comes as three climate change activists launch a High Court challenge to the strategy of "kettling" protesters in a confined space.