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Hundreds of police are on stand-by in London as anarchists threatened a mass “party” in Trafalgar Square to celebrate the death of Margaret Thatcher.

Scotland Yard revealed that it has already launched a major operation to counter threats of disorder in the run up to her funeral next week.

All further leave for officers has been cancelled and operations are being run from a special command and control operations room in Lambeth.

Protesters say a demonstration in Trafalgar Square on Saturday will be a focus for discontent in the run up to next Wednesday’s funeral.

The event is being organised by anarchist group Class War while other groups such as the All London Anarchist Revolutionary Mob, which says it is “committed to radical action to undermine the state,” are also mobilising supporters to attend.

Senior police officers are said to have been initially “quite relaxed” about security in London following Mrs Thatcher’s death but views have hardened since unrest in Brixton and Bristol where seven police officers were injured.

The funeral itself will see the biggest security operation in the UK since the Olympics with hundreds of armed officers forming a “ring of steel” along the three mile procession route from Westminster to St Paul’s Cathedral.

Senior officers, who began planning for the event two years ago, are acutely aware threats could come from militant far left groups, anarchists and Irish terrorists.

Marksmen will be deployed on rooftops and undercover officers will mingle with crowds to spot known trouble makers.

Blanket stop and search powers are expected to be introduced in the run up to the funeral with officers using powers of pre-emptive arrest to target known trouble-makers travelling to the event.

Individuals who are obsessed with Mrs Thatcher will also be vetted to ensure they do not pose a threat at her funeral.

The Met’s Fixated Threat Assessment Centre, which monitors disturbed individuals are obsessed with public figures, has a list of Thatcher fanatics.

Police are already monitoring social networking sites for plans for parties to “celebrate” Mrs Thatcher’s death.

They are aware of the Trafalgar Square event and are preparing an “appropriate” plan to counter any possible trouble.

Police will put in place plans worked out following the 2011 riots in which mobile flying groups of officers will immediately respond to flashpoints of violence and disorder.

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Insiders say they are still developing an intelligence picture of the likely threat of disorder.

Organisers of the Trafalgar Square event claim it has been planned for 10 years and will attract anti-Thatcher protesters from around the UK.

It will take place at the scene of some of the worst trouble during the famous poll tax riots.

On its Facebook page, it said: “6pm Saturday, Trafalgar Square, bring a bottle, bring jelly & ice cream, bring joy.”

Class War founder Ian Bone said “thousands” of anti-Thatcher protesters and anarchists would be taking part on Saturday, including people from groups that she historically had confrontations with.

He said: “Miners will be coming down from the north, Wapping printers, steel workers - it will be a big crowd. We are talking thousands.

“It has been planned for years, always for the first Saturday after her death, and it is in the right place, where the Poll Tax riots were taking place.”

In response to call for a statue of Baroness Thatcher to be erected in Trafalgar Square, Mr Bone said protesters planned to install an effigy of the former leader on the 4th plinth which will then be toppled “like Saddam Hussein” in a moment of “liberation and cathartic retribution”.

Mr Bone, 65, said Saturday was likely to be the main focus of protests rather than the funeral on Wednesday because of the massive police presence expected.

He said: “There will be heads of State there, police with guns - anyone who even raises a placard will get lifted, and it’s not worth it to spend 12 hours in a cell.”

The parties have been met with revulsion and condemnation from MPs from across the political divide.

A Met spokesman said : “London's police, the Met, City of London and British Transport Police, are working together to deliver a security operation for Baroness Thatcher's funeral. Given the nature of the event our operation will use of a range of appropriate tactics.

"We do not have the total number of officers at the moment as we are still developing the detail of our operation.

"We are mindful that this occasion has the potential to attract protest. The MPS wishes to speak to anyone who may chose to demonstrate on Wednesday, or in the coming days, so their right to protest can be upheld whilst respecting the rights of Baroness Thatcher's family and those who wish to pay their respects."

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