Police warn of violence at London Million Mask March

LONDON — Thousands of activists are expected to descend on the center of the British capital Saturday for the annual Million Mask March, aimed at heralding political and social change.

The event, which falls on Guy Fawkes night, is organized by the hacktivist collective Anonymous UK and will begin at Trafalgar Square.

"We have seen the abuses and malpractice of this government, and governments before it, we have seen the encroaching destruction of many civil liberties we hold dear," the group said in a Facebook page for the event.

Guy Fawkes night, also known as Bonfire Night, falls on Nov. 5 and marks the foiling of a plot by a group of Catholics to kill King James I, a Protestant, in 1605. The plan was to blow up the Houses of Parliament during its state opening.

Guy Fawkes, an explosives expert, was found beneath the building with 36 barrels of gunpowder and was sent to the Tower of London where he was tortured and later died. An effigy representing him is burned on bonfires around the country to mark the events.

"We have seen the pushes to make the Internet yet another part of the surveillance state, we have seen the government's disregard for migrants, for the poor, the elderly and the disabled, we have seen the capital, profit and greed of the few put before the well-being of the many and we say enough is enough," the statement from Anonymous UK added, calling on all people who "want to see a positive change in the world, to join us."

Scotland Yard said the event has caused "significant disruption" in recent years and criminal activity has increased.

"Monuments have been criminally damaged, with attempts to take over buildings in addition to harassment of the public, motorists and attacks on police officers," the police force said in a statement.

Chief Superintendent Pippa Mills said her officers want to facilitate peaceful protest, but added they have reason to believe that "is the last thing on the minds of many of the people who will come along this year."

"Last year hundreds of Londoners on their way home from work, or out enjoying an evening in the capital, were harassed and intimidated by people causing them huge concern," she said. “Those who choose to behave like this are not protesters, they are committing criminal acts."