Police urge calm as anti-fascism fears rise in East End
POLICE chiefs in London’s East End are today calling for calm in the community after incidents last night believed to involve members of the English Defence League at Whitechapel
POLICE chiefs in London’s East End are today calling for calm in the community after incidents in Whitechapel last night believed to involve members of the English Defence League.
Tension has been high since the EDL planned to march next Sunday to Stepney’s Troxy venue where an Islamic conference was due to take place.
The EDL called off its march, claiming victory’ after the Troxy cancelled the conference.
Tower Hamlets deputy Police Commander Colin Morgan said in a statement: “There are rumours of anti-Muslim activity. But there is a big difference between what is actually happening and what people say is happening.
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“I would ask community leaders to do all they can to call for calm and for people not to believe rumours which have no basis in fact.”
Organisers of a counter anti-fascist rally at Stepney Green Park on Sunday are going ahead claiming the EDL is still a threat in the East End.
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Police were called to a pub in Whitechapel last night after 50 youths arrived outside when rumours grew that EDL supporters were inside.
Police turned up and escorted the men inside the pub back to Whitechapel Underground station.
They were called again at 8pm to reports of 1,000 EDL supporters outside the East London Mosque in Whitechapel, but found no sign of them.
Instead, there was a crowd of up to 700 people. One youth was arrested for possessing a hammer, Scotland Yard later confirmed.
