Masked protesters who gained notoriety during international anti-capitalist riots are planning a day of "destruction" at an Oxfordshire immigration detention centre.
The Wombles - White Overalls Movement Building Libertarian Effective Struggles - are using the Internet to drum-up support for 'The Siege of Campsfield'.
Activists say between 500 and 5,000 people from across the country, including Oxford, may take part and that violence cannot be ruled out.
The focus of the protest will be Campsfield Detention Centre, near Kidlington, where about 180 people are detained under immigration law. The majority are seeking political asylum.
Wombles activists, who are encouraging campaigners to "free the prisoners", are among those opposed to the site and the conditions there.
______________________________________
RELATED LINKS
______________________________________
They are also urging protesters to bring "siege equipment", padding, helmets and bolt croppers. Workshops will be held at the site on breaching fences. The campaign takes place between July 18 and 22 with the "siege" planned for Saturday, July 21.
Campsfield, which opened in 1993, is run by the Home Office under contract from Group Four Security, whose staff patrol the site.
Bill MacKeith, spokesman for the Campaign to Close Campsfield, a local group which stages protests at the site and held a camp there over the last three weeks, said: "We will pass on information about this protest to people but will not be involved ourselves. The only risk of violence comes from the police and Group Four."
A sign changed by graffiti
A Home Office spokesman said: "Any evidence of illegal activity will be looked at by the police and they will take any necessary precautions.
"The immigration service and Group Four will continue to review security but we would liaise with the police over any threat."
David Campbell, spokesman for Thames Valley Police, said: "We will lay on the appropriate police presence when the time comes."
Group publicity describes the day as "actions to close the centre and free the prisoners. Bastille Day-style prison destruction and white overalls fun expected".
The campaign, which is being run by a series of anti-capitalist groups including the Wombles, is being held to coincide with the G8 Summit in Genoa.
Activists say the event, one of many planned for around the world, will give participants the chance to vent their "revolutionary rage."
Wombles activist Peter, 27, from London, said: "I hope there's no trouble and violence is not planned but how can you guarantee non-violence in any situation when there are large groups of people?"
Mr Kay added that campaigners may try to physically release detainees, who he described as the "victims of globalisation" as they do not have freedom of movement between countries while corporations do.
The Wombles took part in London's May Day demonstrations and activists were in Gothenburg last week for the EU Summit. Protests degenerated into violence and the police used guns. Mr Kay says that no Wombles were responsible for violence.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article