Several popular assertions have been made by media sources such as the Scotsman, the Sun, and other mainstream media outlets. This was expected, and to a certain degree seems unneccessary to reply to. Despite this their assertions seem to have been taken up by individuals in the anti-capitalist, anarchist movement, and on independent media sources as fact - namely Indymedia. As such as an individual who was present when these actions, in the early morning of the 06th July, happened I felt I needed to give my account of the events.

The most prevelent accusations are that indivduals' cars were smashed, satelitte dishes were ripped off of residential property, and residential windows (with a baby sleeping inside - depending on the story's source) were smashed as the anarchist block advanced from the Stirling eco-village, to just above junction 9 on the M9 several hours later.

I witnessed none of these events. Having spoken to other people who were on the block, I feel it is fair to say that they did not happen. At best the assertions are complete distortions of facts, at worst complete fabrications.

Outside the eco-village is an industrial, and business estate. On these estates are a Burger King, Pizza Hut, Bank of Scotland, and a large number of car dealerships.

The car dealerships and the Bank of Scotland all received a varying degree of property destruction with windows smashed, and a satalitte dish apparently being partially ripped off the wall of the Bank of Scotland. This appears to be where the distortions about cars, and satalitte dishes being smashed comes from. None of these institutions were in residential areas, nor was any of the property destroyed there individual or personal property.

The Burger King and Pizza Hut both had their windows, and other breakables destroyed. They also had grafitti daubed across their sides.

A few others windows were smashed - at PC World and B&Q - but when individuals within the block realised this was happening they asked the individuals causing the damage to stop it, which they did.

Once out of the industrial/ business estate no further property damage took place, except for a barbed wire fence around a golf course being removed so that people wouldn't cut themselves.

Within Branockburn there was a confrontation with riot police - which is apparently where the baby's window was smashed. This didn't happen. The confrontation was brief, with people within the block finally realising how close the motorway was. On a couple of occasions people disrupted road working equipment - traffic lights and cones etc - but the vast majority of this was replaced into it's original position by other members of the block.

Once on the motorway wood, stones, and other blockade material was dragged onto the road. No other damage was done.

As such the only property damage that was undertaken between the eco-village and the M9 was the destruction of a Burger King, and Pizza Hut. The damage of a handful of cars within car dealerships on the industrial estate, and the damage done to a Bank of Scotland outlet and office. (It could perhaps be noted here that the Bank of Scotland within the residential area of Banockburn was left alone on the basis that it would be intimidating to the local community for it to be damaged).

Hopefully this will go some way to undo the lies and distortions that have been playing within the media over the past few days.

love & rage
an individual (who would like it to be noted for journos, cops, and other such enemies that they speak for no organisation and merely for themselves...)