British police said today they had arrested four people for planning to disrupt the world's biggest arms trade show when it opens in London tomorrow.
Four people were arrested for conspiracy to cause violent disorder, a police spokesman told reporters.
The Defense Systems and Equipment international (DESEi) show runs from Tuesday to Friday in London's Docklands district, bringing together arms manufacturers from around the world.
It is believed those arrested may have links to anti-capitalist groups, he said, adding that the four had been released on bail without being charged. The spokesman did not name those arrested nor give their nationalities.
Anti-capitalist groups - which are already notorious for a violent protests at international meetings in Italy, Sweden, Canada and the United States - have called for a major demonstration at the arms fair.
Four anti-capitalist groups - Disarm DESEi, the Wombles, Reclaim the Streets and the Campaign Against the Arms Trade - are organising a mass demonstration and vigil at the fair's main entrance starting tomorrow morning and lasting all week.
The planned Fiesta for Life Against Death is described on websites as a fusion of celebration and action using various forms of civil disobedience to make the point against the global trade in death and destruction.