Far-left groups are planning to bring the chaos seen during student protests in France to the streets of Britain.
A coalition of radical organizations has called on students and workers to mobilize in central London next month for a 'Global Day of Youth Action.'
Socialist and anti-war activists, pro-Palestine groups, and other agitators are urging university students to walk out of their classes to join this so-called 'Youth Strike.'
Organizers state that the goal of these protests is to pressure the government to increase spending on employment and education, abolish the defense budget, support Palestine, and oppose Israel.
A post circulating on social media urges supporters to "stand up against imperialism, capitalism, authoritarianism, and the far-right."
This comes in the wake of widespread unrest across France over the weekend, which saw at least 2,400 arrests and at least 3,000 businesses damaged or looted.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp stated: "The scenes of violence and looting we have witnessed in France and across Europe are deeply concerning."
"The Conservative Party supports the right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest."
"However, any attempt by far-left groups to replicate such chaos in the UK must be met with the full force of the law."
"They cannot be permitted to incite anarchy, rioting, and unrest here." They added: "It is a matter of concern that under this Labour government, the number of police officers is declining; there is a shortfall of 6,500 officers on the front line.
"Consequently, the police lack the resources necessary to combat crime and ensure public safety."
The event is being promoted for Friday, November 20, at Trafalgar Square, with further demonstrations planned in towns and cities including Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, and Leicester.
According to the organizers, this is being coordinated with protests taking place across Europe.
An online post promoting the event states: "We are proud to join this incredible movement that is growing globally seen in countries like France and beyond."
It further adds: "Following protests by youth and workers internationally, we call upon students and laborers across the UK to mobilize on this day joining an international stand against imperialism, the capitalist system, oppressive governance, and the far-right, as seen in the actions taken against various governments worldwide."
In response to the announcement of the protest in London, one social media user remarked: "The Met Police don't have the guts to be as violent as the 'storm troopers' in Paris."
The demonstration is supported by, among others, the 'SOAS Liberated Zone' a pro-Palestine student encampment at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, which stands as the longest-running such camp in the UK.
When asked for the Prime Minister’s response regarding anyone planning to replicate the protests or incite violence in the UK, his spokesperson told reporters: "Our police clearly have the necessary powers and resources to protect our communities and keep the public safe."
He added: "Quite clearly, the violence we are witnessing on the streets of France is unacceptable.
"And while the right to protest is central to a democracy, it can never justify violence.
"We know that people in the UK are also concerned about the cost of living.
"The Prime Minister has stated his commitment to continuing measures that provide relief regarding the cost of living and put more money into people's pockets; to this end, he has outlined various initiatives through which this will be achieved."
Colin Sutton, an advisor on policing and crime for Reform UK, stated: "The UK has already witnessed the consequences when authorities take a lenient approach to organized unrest; therefore, we fully expect the Metropolitan Police to adopt a firm and uncompromising stance.
"This means that anyone who breaks the law must face the full consequences.
"Reform UK’s 'S.A.F.E.' plan prioritizes the safety of the British public, incorporating a significant expansion of police 'stop and search' powers, a ban on face coverings, and the deployment of an additional 30,000 officers on the streets."
Unrest in France began with protests over conditions in schools, but it has since escalated into riots, violence, destruction, looting, and clashes with the police, as more than 500,000 people took to the streets over the past weekend.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered his resignation on Sunday, acknowledging that authorities had "lost control" in some major cities.
However, President Emmanuel Macron rejected the resignation, citing the "need for continuity in the command" of law enforcement agencies.
Mr. Macron instructed Nuñez to "implement a new policing strategy" as soon as possible and to "take all necessary measures to ensure full transparency regarding the failures in planning and intelligence gathering that led to the violence."
On Sunday evening, groups set fire to trash bins, bicycles, and other items on the streets in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and other cities, while also looting businesses.
In the city of Limoges, in central France, a 19th-century city hall was set ablaze on Saturday, causing its roof to collapse.
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