The Mayor of Tower Hamlets welcomed police action in arresting leaders of the English Defence League as they tried to enter the borough for a march at the weekend.
Lutfur Rahman said: “The English Defence League are not welcome in the East End. For generations, they and their ilk have attempted to target our vibrant and diverse community.”
EDL leader Tommy Robinson and his co-leader Kevin Carroll were arrested on suspicion of obstructing officers as they attempted to stage what they claimed was a charity walk to Woolwich Barracks via the East London Mosque in Whitechapel Road.
On Saturday night they were bailed to return to a police station in August with two men who were arrested on suspicion of assault, a Scotland Yard spokesman said.
The pair were arrested trying to enter Tower Hamlets - which has one of he capital’s biggest Muslim communities - despite being ordered to stay away by police.
Two members of the public were arrested amid reports that the EDL pair were attacked in Commercial Street, close to Aldgate East Tube station.
A video of the arrest can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEI0TKkX9_o
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