Million Mask March: London Anonymous Anarchists Plan To Kidnap, Strip, Humiliate Police Officers


Anarchist protesters participating in the Million Mask March anti-capitalist protests in London plan to kidnap, strip, and otherwise humiliate police officers, International Business Times is reporting.

Since Thursday (Guy Fawkes Day in England), thousands of protesters, many wearing the Guy Fawkes mask traditionally associated with the hacktivist collective Anonymous, have been carrying out protests in London under the heading Million Mask March. Some of those protests have turned violent: several police vehicles have been burned, four cops have been injured, and in one case, protesters launched fireworks at a police horse, blinding the animal.

Now, as it turns out, the Million Mask Protesters may have had even more in mind than just property damage. Investigators claim to have discovered a document, called the “Occupiers Tactical Manual” according to The Daily Mail, was allegedly circulated among protesters before and during the protests. It was also posted on an Anonymous-linked website, but that website appears to have been taken down.

The manual encourages protesters to kidnap and make an example of high-ranking police officials, rather than rank-and-file “pawns,” in order to humiliate and demoralize the police force.

“[Officers are to be] 1) Stripped of all clothing; 2) Painted with colourful body paint/dye that won’t come off for months; 3) Pictures/videos taken; 4) Then these pictures/videos posted on social media. This will cause horrible embarrassment and demoralising effect on the police lines.”

As of this post, the London Metropolitan Police has not commented publicly on the manual.

Who Is Anonymous And What Do They Want?

The Million Mask March is associated with Anonymous, described as a “collective” of hackers and other activists. However, unlike, say, Greenpeace, Anonymous doesn’t have a headquarters. You don’t “join,” pay dues, or affirm that you believe in a certain creed in order to gain membership. You are part of Anonymous simply by claiming your are; anyone can don a mask and post a video claiming to operate on behalf of Anonymous, or arrange (or attend) a protest and attach it to Anonymous.

Since its inception around 2008, according to Information Week writer Mathew J. Schwartz, Anonymous has generally targeted, through computer-based attacks and exposure of secret information, organizations and persons the group believes have performed immoral acts. Past targets have included police departments accused of police brutality, child pornography-sharing websites, and Scientology.

They’ve also been attached to protests on the ground – some of which have turned violent. The current Million Mask March protests in London are organized by operatives claiming to be associated with Anonymous.

Why The Masks

The Guy Fawkes mask has become a symbol of Anonymous. Fawkes was a revolutionary who, on November 5, 1605, was caught attempting blow up the English Parliament.

Guy Fawkes, whose face inspired the Guy Fawkes mask, favored by Anonymous. [Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images]
Guy Fawkes, whose face inspired the Guy Fawkes mask, favored by Anonymous. [Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images]

Fast forward 400 years to the 2006 film V for Vendetta, based on the Alan Moore graphic novel of the same name. The titular character, V, wears a mask intended to resemble Guy Fawkes. At a point in the film, thousands of protesters wearing the mask protest oppression by their government. The mask serves the purpose of both disguising the viewer from the authorities and demonstrates solidarity with the views of V.

Anonymous took hold of the mask idea and ran with it, posting videos with operatives wearing the mask and showing up at protests with the mask. Speaking to BBC News, co-writer David Lloyd described how he’s pleased to see the mask associated with protest.

“The Guy Fawkes mask has now become a common brand and a convenient placard to use in protest against tyranny – and I’m happy with people using it, it seems quite unique, an icon of popular culture being used this way.”

Million Mask March

Since 2013, Million Mask Marches have taken place in various cities throughout the world annually on November 5 (Guy Fawkes Day in England). The current protests in England have resulted in some 50 arrests as of this post; all but two arrested individuals have been released without criminal charges.

International Business Times describes the current Million Mask March protests in London as “[calling for] an end to austerity measures and inequality brought on by government policies.”

As of this post, no police officers are known to have been kidnapped by protesters during the Million Mask March.

[Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images]

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