Mayor of Tower Hamlets Lutfur Rahman has cancelled public engagements amid fears of retaliation after yesterday’s suspected terrorist attack resulted in the death of a soldier in Woolwich.
The man was killed outside army barracks, with police treating the incident as an act of terrorism.
Mr Rahman is today attending a number of meetings to ensure security provisions in the borough are adequate.
A spokeswoman for Tower Hamlets Council said: “He has got a few meetings with community leaders and senior police officers. He is concerned about community tensions and the potential for retaliation.”
He is understood to have fears about the potential for far right group the English Defence League - which has plans to march through Tower Hamlets this summer - to fuel tensions in the borough.
The incident triggered protests in Woolwich last night from the organisation.
Mr Rahman last night issued a statement in which he condemned the attacks, in which he said: “I utterly condemn this appalling act of violence in our neighbouring borough of Greenwich.
“This is a cowardly, disgraceful and truly shocking act and our thoughts are with the family of the victim.”
Mr Rahman had been due to unveil the latest stage of the £220million regeneration of the Ocean Estate in Stepney at 4pm this afternoon.
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