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Anarchists Detained by Counter-Terrorist Police

Anarchist Federation | 16.08.2012 17:13 | Policing | Repression | Terror War

For the past week, thousands of anarchists from across the world have been converging in St.Imier, Switzerland to celebrate the 140th anniversary of the founding of the Anarchist international.
On returning from the St Imier gathering, two anarchists, one a member of the UK Anarchist Federation, were detained for nearly two hours at Heathrow by SO15 (counter-terrorist) intelligence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- Anarchist Federation (UK)

Anarchists Detained by Counter-Terrorist Police on Return from Swiss Conference

For the past week, thousands of anarchists from across the world have been converging in St.Imier, Switzerland to celebrate the 140th anniversary of the founding of the Anarchist international. The gathering took the form of a festival and educational, with music, films and entertainment as well as workshops and discussions.

On returning from the St Imier gathering, two anarchists, one a member of the UK Anarchist Federation, were detained for nearly two hours at Heathrow by SO15 (counter-terrorist) intelligence who initially refused to identify themselves to the detainees. During the detention, the anarchists were told that their normal rights did not apply, and had their names, addresses, email addresses, DNA, photographs and fingerprints taken. The detained anarchists were also forced to sign forms – which may or may not be legal – waiving their rights to silence and a solicitor. Police also conducted a thorough search of personal possessions, photocopied literature and passports and took information from phones and cameras.

During the detention, the police constantly accused the anarchists of lying about involvement in criminal activity and alleged that they would be conducting follow-up police action against one of the detained anarchists. In addition to this, SO15 officers asked a number of inflammatory, irrelevant and offensive questions, including ‘what would you do if someone raped your mother?’ evidently in an attempt to cause emotional upset and illicit angry or violent responses. One member (28) who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals from the police, said “We were treated like criminals. I told them I went to the congress as I am an amateur journalist and I write articles about activism. They saw my note book, camera and Dictaphone but they said I was lying.” One officer said ‘You said you are an anarchist, I’ve seen anarchists on the news, they are violent, throw molotov cocktails and disrupt people’s lives not write articles”.
The counter terrorist officers either didn’t know or chose to ignore that, during the first day of the gathering, the International of Anarchist Federations (Of which the UK Anarchist Federation is a member) had issued a statement rejecting all terrorist tactics as a means of achieving an anarchist society.

In contrast to the actions of the UK security forces, the local press and residents in St.Imier reported very positively on the anarchist gathering.
With this incident, we are seeing a further slide towards political policing and the criminalisation of political ideologies. The two detained anarchists have not had any involvement in any illegal or violent activity, or any activity that would concern the counter-terrorist police. As in the past, when Metropolitan police called on people to give information about local anarchists, anarchists suffered harassment for their political viewpoint.

As class-struggle anarchists, we believe that the state does little except serve the interests of the rich and powerful at the expense of ordinary people. This is seen clearly when people who hold views critical of the state are treated as criminals and terrorists. We seek to create a classless society, based on freedom, equality and co-operation. We believe in the capacity of ordinary people to run society themselves, without the interference of bosses or politicians. This incident was not in response to any crime and constitutes repression and criminalisation of a political ideology.

Editors Notes:
Anarchism is a political philosophy that seeks to build an egalitarian society in which mutual aid, co-operation and direct democracy replace capitalism and the state.
The St Imier Congress was a gathering of anarchists from all over the world to celebrate the 140th anniversary of the first international anarchist gathering in the Swiss town of St Imier in 1872.
The Anarchist Federation is a federation of class struggle anarchist-communists in the UK who seek to build an egalitarian society.

Anarchist Federation
- Homepage: www.afed.org.uk

Comments

Hide the following 21 comments

'forced'

16.08.2012 20:10

That's a shit experience and I'm sorry for our anarchist friends, but no-one can be 'forced to sign a form' waiving rights. Especially anarchists...

anon


Forced

16.08.2012 21:17

Anyone can be forced to do anything if the threat is felt to be real enough. I can only assume those concerned felt any threats from the security services to be sufficiently convincing.

Now that's terrorism.

Solidarity with anarchist comrades


Police..... Stupid or evil?

17.08.2012 07:52

Are they stupid, or are they evil? well thats a tricky one.....
I think that they ARE stupid, hence their dumb mis-informed questions, but they are also at least a LITTLE BIT evil since they must have a hint of awareness of the agent provocateurs who try to turn protests violent, and of the undercovers who are not there in a passive role, but rather are there in order to stitch up younger naive activists (and maybe even rape a few of them) etc.
hmmmm yes I would estimate their evil to stupid ratio as something like 2 to 7.
Just a ballpark figure.... but at least there is hope that they can be re-programmed and made to perform more useful tasks for society, like you know, protecting the meek and upholding common law.

Ruud Jones


Fuck off snitches

17.08.2012 07:53

First you walked right into the terrorist script of the state, willingly playing the game of "good" anarchists and "bad" ones, then you're easily bullied into co-operating with the security services just to get out of the airport no-mans-land. you are not anarchists, you're a pathetic embarrassment to the movement and a laughing stock. i wouldn't go near your shit organisation with a shitty stick. :)

the state might be the terrorist but you lot are just wankers who wouldn't last 5 minutes in prison without snitching out your former "comrades" for sure. anybody with any sense should stay away from you!

"I'm just an amateur journalist not an anarchist revolutionary, please, I'll sign the form!" HA HA



no solidarity with AFED


Fuck off....

17.08.2012 09:58

Back to daddies mansion, you Internet hard man lifestyle cunt. If only everyone in the movement was as brave and hard as you, eh?

Posh, gobby little fucks like you, playing rebel for a couple of years are the reason working class people laugh at sections of the anarchist movement.

Until you're in that situation, don't judge. Although you never will end up in that situation, coz daddy could no doubt pull some strings.

Why no solidarity with AFed? Is it coz they call your 'insurrectionist', childish burning sprees for what they are - infantile bullshit?

Total solidarity with the detained anarchists.

Fire to the 'insurrectionists'!

Town end boy


Re; No Solidarity

17.08.2012 10:32

Why do you think real anarchists can't be amatuer journalists and article writters? Especially at an event like St Imier where those that would want to see what was going on far out number those that could make the trip to Switzerland.

More importantly, what do you think gives you the right to tell someone how to be an anarchist?

You sure as hell don't get to go around branding people 'snitches'. Giving basic personal information about yourself under extreme duress is fucking worlds away from snitching - giving the state evidence/knowledge of someone elses illegal activity. I don't know what sort of anarchist you consider yourself to be, but where I am we don't throw the word snitch around with that disregard. Oh, and we stand in solidarity with all class struggle/anarchist prisoners, not just the ones that agree with our specific views of the struggle.

Solidairty with those detained, stay strong

Anon


Solidarity with the Afed comrades

17.08.2012 10:35

The state will use whatever underhanded manipulative and authoritarian tactics they can to break us. Chin up and hope everything works out fine. For those who are slagging these 2 off, I don't think this article is meant to be whining about what happened but to publicise what our supposedly liberal state does to those that challenge it even in the slightest.

Northern A


solidarity

17.08.2012 12:00

I don't want to slag off the Afed members, insurrectionists, or anyone else. Anarchists have lots of different views and approaches and no one has the divine hotline to the one true way. Enough of the macho arrogance of "I'm the real anarchist". It's a shame that Afed have put out public statements condemning other anarchists and actions they disagree with. Of course this pisses off other comrades, who then slag off Afed in their turn. And so it all plays nicely into the hands of our real enemy, the bosses and their state. Maybe we could all grow up a bit and concentrate on attacking the enemy and building our movements rather than criticising each other in public. Whatever kind of organising (or disorganising) or "direct action" we're into, we've got plenty of work to do without wasting energy on internal polemics.

whatever


Temper temper

17.08.2012 14:46

To the 'fuck off snitches' character... do you realise what a complete and utter mard arse you sound like? Posh 'erbert sounds about right. Those who got lifted by the security forces, if you're reading this, take no notice of the fuckwit element.

King Pleb


Solidarity for anarchists is more just than a written word

17.08.2012 16:26

You might have heard about another old anarchist slogan, it goes - "the state is the only terrorist" - it's as popular as "our passion for freedom is stronger than the prison"

Or not.



HA HA HA! x


No solidarity with members of political parties!

What goes around comes around you fucking idiots! ;)











I'll sign anything me, just don't put me in the bad place!


Heres a slogan -

17.08.2012 17:21

You will have heard a lot - shut up you numpty!

Just coz someone's said it, doesn't make it true. You sound like a religious zealot, puking out tired slogans rather than engaging in a meaningful way.

Of course the state is a terrorist, but 'anarchists' with bombs also have a long, long history of blowing up innocent bystanders/themselves.

The 'inssurectionist' (in inverted commas, because this sort of tactic has zero to do with genuine indirection) strand of anarchist has resulted in the death and maiming of many times more anarchists and working class bystanders than it has bossss or politicians. It is a failed strategy with the sole purpose of making a few small
Men feel big and tough for a bit (before they blow their own hands off, or some other such foolishness).

Town End Boy


A Personal Response

17.08.2012 18:23

A Personal Statement from One od the two Held

"I feel no need to justify my choices while detained. It seems odd that people accuse me of snitching or colaborating with the state. I'm not sure how this conclusion was reached. I signed a sheet waiving my right to silence becuase it would get me out of there faster, I chose to do this as I was comfortable in the knowledge that I would still share nothing with the Police other than what they could deduce form my passport, travel documents and note book.

My choice was simple, give them nothing but confirmation of what they already knew and be out in an hour or so or say "Fuck You Pig I'm not telling you anything!" and be up before a magistrates the next day as well as both of us being stuck 200 miles from home. I had no information that wanted and even if I did I would never have shared it with them

I was not in that situation because of my activism of writing blogs, organising events and protesting on the streets but because of the actions of others. I was there because of those who sabotage train lines or shoot people or set fire to buildings. Do I resent those people? No, not for one moment. In fact, unlike others, I have solidarity with all those people even if I do not agree with those tactics. I understand completely why people may feel the need to use such tactics. I was more than willing to sit in that cell safe in the knowledge the cops were barking up the wrong tree and those responsible for whatever they were fishing for were still free.

That is why I find it hard to stomach when people who also have solidarity with these "insurectionists" verbally attack me from the safety of their armchair. Other commenters Lumping them in with these so called "Insurrectionists" is just smoothing thier ego, they are trolls. These are not the people who take clandestine action but the clingers on, the parasites of those commited to revolution, insurection and diversity of tactics in all its forms, the posers, the punks graffiting the walls of St.Imier, the nobodies.

Total Unconditional Solidarity with ALL anarchists faceing repression."

One of the Two


re: fuck of snitches

17.08.2012 21:37

it's quite obvious they didn't snitch otherwise we would be reading the headline 'anti-terror police detain large numbers of anarchists' instead of 'two anarchists'

troll somewhere else you macho asshole

armchair anarchists should get some exercise


@personal response

17.08.2012 21:42

> I was not in that situation because of my activism of writing blogs, organising events and protesting on the streets but because of the actions of others.

Actually, the police are the ones who know why. You have no idea and can only guess - unless you are a telepath :) It is arrogant to assume otherwise

> I was there because of those who sabotage train lines or shoot people or set fire to buildings. Do I resent those people?

Dangerous, life-threatening criminals then.

> No, not for one moment.

WTF!?! would you like to rephrase that?

> In fact, unlike others, I have solidarity with all those people even if I do not agree with those tactics

You have solidarity with people who shoot people, set fire to buildings etc?! WTF

> I understand completely why people may feel the need to use such tactics. I was more than willing to sit in that cell safe in the knowledge the cops were barking up the wrong tree and those responsible for whatever they were fishing for were still free.

They shouldn't be free. They should be locked up to protect people from their dangerous actions.

aon


good statement!

18.08.2012 03:33

Excellent statement and breath of fresh air in "insurrectiinists are not real anarchists" bullshit floating about. And trolls are out in force with many people obviously falling into a trap of feeding them. This guys are probably pigs stirring up trouble between anarchists.
Same with the idiot troll that goes on about locking people up. Nice try officer :) And if you are anot a pig then that just means you are complete moron.

To the guy that wrote a statement- no need to feel bad about accusations flying on the indymedia. Seems like pigs just getting busy as usual.

anarchist


mug

18.08.2012 10:11

>> I was more than willing to sit in that cell safe in the knowledge the cops were barking up the wrong tree and those responsible for whatever they were fishing for were still free.

Lol!

You mug!

Why don't you confess to some of the crimes whilst you are at it, that way the people who did them will get to stay free too.

Victim mentality, and then has the audacity to moan about being in a cell.

If you are "more than willing" to sit in the cell, then i dont understand what you are complaining about. Except you are an idiot if you are willing to take the fall for other people's actions. They will gladly accept it and give you fuck all in return

You mug!

mug holder


Just thinking...

19.08.2012 08:40

I expect the UK mainstream media are now aware of this. As the liberal press are so keen to say something about the lack of freedom in Russia with the Pussy Riot case, then its worth noting the complete lack of intrest about this home grown case of free speech being attacked.

MT


Come on...

21.08.2012 18:27

"The two detained anarchists have not had any involvement in any illegal or violent activity"

Does it mean they are "good anarchists" ?

Does it mean pigs are rightfull to make the same with people having "illegal activity" ?

Does it mean the Anarchist Federation always respect the law ?

That's the problem with Anarchist Federation : they have a real problem with legality and radical activism...

It's so stupid to make anymore this distinction between "nice" and "bad" anarchists !

Ian


nice or bad

22.08.2012 14:41

"It's so stupid to make anymore this distinction between "nice" and "bad" anarchists !"

No it's not. Its just a mistake to make a distinction based on a tenuous 'legality'. Bad anarchists are those with shit politics, vanguardists and substitutionists.

Good anarchist :)


legal info

22.08.2012 22:02

For more on Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act, which apparently makes it a crime to refuse to answer questions in these circumstances (arriving or leaving the country):

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/396863.html
 http://www.govyou.co.uk/repeal-schedule-7-of-the-terrorism-act-2000/
 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/11/schedule/7

And yes, let's ignore those trying to cause division between different flavours of anarchism. They are probably idiots, troublemakers or cops.

anonymous


Face Palm!

28.08.2012 16:58

First of all I would like to say after a similar experience myself that I totally sympathise with the both of you and all other victims of state repression.

Second, Ruud Jones, go back to the David Icke conference. Not everything that turns a bit pear shaped is the result of "agent provocateurs" or "undercover police in a non passive role". Actions turn pear shaped for a variety of reasons! In fact, have you ever even been in any of those types of situations? Also, where the fuck did you get that "or maybe rape them?" comment from?, I think you may need help! I mean, no doubt there are coppers who do rape people but how many people have been raped as a result of an action turning pear shaped (In this sordid country at least)?

Third, what the fuck is it with all of this childish playground bullshit about who is a real anarchist and who is not? That troll calling the two detained comrades "informers" is a total shit bag. Where 'insurrectionists' are concerned I do not denounce them in their entirity but individual actions which they carry out may be stupid or may be not. An example of a stupid and reckless action (In my humble opinion!) is the Bristol trainline action as it could have very easily harmed innocent people but on the flip-side there may be action(s) which in my opinion may not be so bad. We need to get a fucking grip where this mud slinging is concerned and that goes for both 'organisationalists' and 'insurrectionists' (To put labels to them!).
What happened to the two comrades is a fucking shame but this is not the fault of 'insurrectionists' making 'anarchists look bad' but evidently of police ignorance. This is evident in the copper's "I have seen the news" comment. Their impressions are formed as a result of an already biased media. Even if every single anarchist on the face of the earth was totally passive, the media and those whose impressions are formed by the media will continue to condem us and have state policy formed around such opinions and impressions. I am not an 'insurrectionist', I am an AFed member and fucking proud of it but not everything that AFed writes speaks for me personally.

Anarchists are anarchists and we do not have to totally agree with what each of us say and do have the right to constructive criticism where genuinely needed but this idea of 'I am a real anarchist and you are not' is quite frankly fucking pathetic.

Greetings and best wishes to all,

Total Tool

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