‘I predict a riot … again’ – trader Alessio Rastani speaks at Occupy London’s new Bank of Ideas

Trader Alessio Rastani addresses Occupy London campaigners at the Bank of Ideas on Saturday. Photograph: Julia Ross

Controversial trader Alessio Rastani told Occupy London this weekend that next year will see more riots as the gravity of the global economic crisis hits home.

Rastani became an internet sensation in September when he told BBC News he “dreamed of another recession” and urged people to join him in betting against the market.

Speaking at campaign group Occupy London’s Bank of Ideas on Saturday, Rastani said people would see their money disappear as banks collapsed and widespread disorder would follow.

He said: “My prediction is that in the next twelve months as well we’re going to see protests and riots.

“Not just in London, not just in Wall Street but in every major city in the world.

“Why? Because people will get pissed off when their money vanishes in front of their eyes. They’re going to see the true scale of this crisis.”

He urged people to join Occupy and stand against bankers’ greed and a world hes says is ruled by corporations.

Some may see Rastani’s support for the movement as surprising, but he insisted this is not about being anti-capitalism.

He said: “Let’s put it this way: capitalism only exists if there’s fair competition – where’s the competition?”

Instead, he argues, we have what corporatism or cartelism where global banks control markets and governments.

Rastani appeared during a day of talks as the ‘Bank of Ideas’ opened to the public. Other speakers included political author Nicholas Shaxson and spoken word artist Belinda Zhawi

Occupy London announced they had entered and secured the UBS-owned building on Sun Street in a press conference on Friday.

Occupy spokespreson Jack Holburn said: “As banks repossess families’ homes, empty bank property needs to be repossessed by the public.

“Whilst over 9,000 families were kicked out of their homes in the last three months for failing to keep up mortgage payments – mostly due to the recession caused by the banks – UBS and others financial giants are sitting on
massive abandoned properties.”

He added they hoped this was the first in a wave of ‘public repossessions’ of buildings belonging to companies responsible for the global crash.

The multi-million pound property was empty for several months before Thursday.

Occupy say the offices and meeting rooms will be available for those who have lost nurseries, community centres and youth clubs due to government cuts.

The building’s Hackney location is itself statement. On the edge of the city, the vast UBS building has spilled over into one of London’s most deprived boroughs.

Supporter Ryan Healy, 22, a recent graduate said: “Areas like this at the edge of the city are where the people who caused the recession and some of the people most affected by it meet head-on. I suppose you can see it in those terms.”