Category Archives: English Defence League

North London mosque attack: Time to treat Islamophobia seriously

Posted on by Bob Pitt

MCB banner

The Muslim Council of Britain today expressed its shock at the reported firebomb attack of a North London mosque in the early hours of this morning. Fire crews are said to have seen the words ‘EDL’ scrawled on the side of the building.

Farooq Murad, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain said: “This is the latest in a series of attacks on Muslim institutions since the horrific murder of Drummer Lee Rigby. The British Muslim community came out in droves to condemn this murder, and it is despicable that Muslims should be held to account and suffer in this way.”

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Racist graffiti at Leeds site that will be Muslim centre

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Lingfield graffiti

Racist graffiti has been daubed on a former pub that is being turned into an Muslim-run community centre in Leeds. Unknown vandals spray painted Islamophobic remarks and racist jibes on the walls and windows of the long-abandoned Lingfield pub, in Lingfield Drive, Moortown, overnight on Friday.

Plans for the UK Islamic Mission (UKIM) charity to turn the site into a public gym, IT suite, library, training room, café and prayer room for up to 70 people, were passed by Leeds City Council in February.

It is the second time the building has been targeted by vandals – the words “no mosque” were sprayed on the building before a council meeting discussed the plans earlier this year.

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Police probe mosque blaze amid fears ‘firebomb attack’ is Woolwich revenge

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Bravanese Centre fire

Counter-terrorism police are investigating a blaze that destroyed a mosque today amid fears that it was firebombed in revenge for the Woolwich murder of Drummer Lee Rigby. Fire crews reported seeing the letters EDL scrawled on the building’s side as they battled the blaze in Muswell Hill.

Scotland Yard said it was treating the fire at the Somali community centre as suspicious and the Counter Terrorism Command was leading the inquiry. Fire crews were called to the Somali Bravanese Welfare Association in Coppetts Road at 3.15am and took nearly an hour and a half to get the blaze under control. The two-storey building, housing the Al-Rahma Islamic Centre and listed as a mosque, was completely destroyed.

A prominent member of the far-Right protest group English Defence League said: “Just because EDL is written on the wall, you can’t point the finger at us. It could have been anyone. The Government is not doing anything so people are taking things into their own hands. I don’t condemn this.”

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Anger as EDL plans return to Sheffield

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Shopkeepers fear they may have to close as hundreds of English Defence League members plan a second gathering in Sheffield this weekend.

Tommy Robinson, leader of the far right group, said the event will take place from 1pm on Saturday and involve a “peaceful walk” into Barker’s Pool. Nearly 600 people on the group’s Facebook page said they would be attending.

Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, said he planned the second gathering after claiming to be “sickened” when anti-fascist demonstrators disrupted a planned walk and wreath laying “in memory of Drummer Lee Rigby” at the war memorial in Barker’s Pool last week. Robinson said his members were “just normal people” wanting to remember the murdered soldier.

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Britain unites to warn racist thugs ‘you can’t cash in on Lee Rigby’s murder’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Oxford anti-EDL protestors

A far right bid to exploit soldier Lee Rigby’s murder failed today as people across Britain turned their backs on racism, the Sunday People reports.

Demos by the British National Party and English Defence League flopped – and a march in London was even outnumbered by a nearby protest against badger culling.

The scenes took place as suspect Michael Adebolajo, 28, was charged with Drummer Rigby’s murder. Michael Adebowale, 22, has already been charged.

Bigots using the atrocity to push a right-wing agenda faced a united front from people shouting slogans like “Fascist scum off our streets” and “we’re black and white and Asian and we’re Jews.”

At one rally not a single EDL supporter turned up.

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EDL graffiti on Muslim prayer hall in Blackburn cemetery

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Blackburn prayer hall graffiti

Police are investigating after graffiti was painted on to the wall of a Muslim prayer hall at a cemetery in Lancashire. The writing was discovered in the Pleasington cemetery on Tower Road, Blackburn earlier.

Ch Supt Bob Eastwood said: “It is unacceptable for anyone to commit crimes like this, especially at places of worship.” He appealed for anyone with information to contact Lancashire Police.

BBC News, 31 May 2013

See also Asian Image, 31 May 2013

Drummer Lee Rigby’s regiment urges members not to participate in ‘self-serving’ demonstrations

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The regiment of Drummer Lee Rigby has urged its members not to participate in “self-serving” demonstrations following the soldier’s brutal murder in Woolwich last week.

A number of demonstrations have been held since Drummer Rigby’s death last Wednesday, with members of the English Defence League marching through central London on Monday. EDL members protested outside Downing Street, with protesters heard chanting “Muslim killers off our streets” and “There’s only one Lee Rigby”.

Drummer Rigby’s regiment has now distanced itself from such demonstrations, with regimental secretary Brigadier Ian Liles criticising organisations trying to “exploit” the murder for “a range of self-serving and unhelpful reasons”.

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Far-right groups plan day of demonstrations across England

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Far-right groups are planning their biggest mobilisation for 30 years this weekend with more than 50 demonstrations planned in towns and cities across England.

Anti-racism campaigners have branded Saturday a “day of hate” after identifying 55 English Defence League (EDL) events as well a BNP march in London.

Guardian, 30 May 2013