Category Archives: UK

100 turn out for EDL protest in Luton

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL protest Luton August 2013 (2)

The planned protest by the English Defence League in Stopsley, Luton, has passed without incident.

Supporters of the group started to gather at the Sportsman pub on St Thomas’ Road this morning at 10am. At around 3pm, the group of around 100 made their way down St Thomas’ Road towards PlayFootball.net before heading back.

Stephen Lennon, the leader of the Luton-based EDL, had claimed that the management at PlayFootball.net had called off a planned charity event, after receiving complaints from members of the community. He said it had been replaced by a ‘Goals for Gaza’ tournament which is raising money for the Ummah Welfare Trust’s Palestine Appeal and that he was calling for a ‘level playing field where the whole community should be treated the same’.

Throughout the day there was a considerable police presence in Stopsley, which has now been reduced.

Bedfordshire on Sunday, 26 August 2013

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Police probe arson attempt on Harlow Islamic Centre

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Harlow Islamic Centre arson

Police are investigating a suspected overnight arson attempt on an Islamic centre.

Officers believe the incident took place at Harlow Islamic Centre in Paringdon Road, Harlow, Essex, between 10.30pm and 4am. No-one is thought to have been hurt in the attack and a scene guard has been set up as the investigation continues.

Chief Inspector Ed Wells said: “Detectives are investigating this concerning incident and there will be a significant police presence throughout the day to reassure all local residents as we seek to identify those responsible.”

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Pig’s head left outside Rotherham mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Moorgate MosqueTwo teenagers have appeared in court after a pig’s head was allegedly left on the steps of a Rotherham mosque.

Police were called to Moorgate Mosque, Moorgate Street, Rotherham, on Wednesday, at about 10pm. Officers said a pig’s head was found on the steps of the mosque. Two male teenagers, aged 16 and 17, were arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated harassment and appeared at Rotherham Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Anyone with information relating to the mosque incident should call 101, quoting incident number 1397 of August 21.

Sheffield Telegraph, 24 August 2013

Posted in UK

Men fascinated by mass killer Anders Breivik targeted mosques

Posted on by Bob Pitt

John Roddy and Tobias RuthA young fascist with a fascination for Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik has admitted plotting to damage mosques. John Roddy and his friend Tobias Ruth daubed racist graffiti on an Islamic Centre in Torbay and sent threatening messages. They were both warned they faced jail after Roddy admitted having a terror manual on his computer.

The pair were arrested in January after an area of Torquay was sealed off by armed police who feared they may be dealing with a terrorist cell. Roddy’s laptop contained an “al-Qaeda training manual” and Breivik’s “2083 A European Declaration of Independence”. Breivik was the inspiration of the plotters, who daubed the letters KT 2083, standing for Knights Templar, and referring to the mass killer’s manifesto.

Roddy, 20, of Lymington Road, Torquay, and Ruth, 19, of Morgan Avenue, Torquay, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cause criminal damage and to send articles containing threats which were intended to cause distress. Roddy also admitted an offence under the Terrorism Act of possessing information likely to be useful to a terrorist.

Judge Francis Gilbert, QC, bailed the men at Exeter Crown Court but warned them they faced jail when they return for sentence next month. He said: “These are serious offences for which they must expect immediate custody. I warn them that all options including custody are open.”

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Drunken supporters of ‘non-racist’ EDL forgot they’re only supposed to be against Islam

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A drunken woman angrily hurled racist abuse at staff in a takeaway shop – including chanting references to the far-right English Defence League. She and a man, who was in a foul-mouthed group of troublemakers, turned on a Brazilian man who tried to intervene and they both assaulted him during an “ugly” confrontation, Grimsby magistrates heard.

Rebecca Swan, 38, of Beacon Avenue, Cleethorpes, and Christopher Drury, 23, of Corporation Road, Grimsby, admitted a racially aggravated assault on Carlos Defreiates, on July 4. Swan also admitted using racially aggravated threatening words or behaviour.

Nick Wyman, prosecuting, said Swan and Drury were among a group outside the Topkapi takeaway in High Street, Cleethorpes, in the early hours. Swan and some men were repeatedly chanting “EDL” and pointing towards people inside the shop.

Swan shouted racist abuse and was pointing her finger towards the takeaway. The chanting and abuse continued for a couple of minutes. Racist language and “EDL” were shouted again. Swan shouted: “If you live here, you should abide by our laws”. Mr Defreiates, who is Brazilian, got involved and asked Swan and Drury why they were doing it.

The group turned on him and wrongly thought he was Polish. Swan asked him: “Where are you from? You shouldn’t be here.” She rammed her finger in to his chest several times and told him: “You are in England. You should live by my laws.” Swan slapped him across his neck and Drury hit him in the chest with the palm of his hand, causing him to fall to the ground. “It was an ugly incident,” said Mr Wyman.

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South Shields: Police place restrictions on EDL/Infidels march

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Police today revealed that next weekend’s EDL march in South Shields will be allowed to go ahead – but it WILL NOT go near Ocean Road.

Right-wing groups the North East Infidels (NEI) and English Defence League (EDL) are holding a march and demonstration in South Shields on Saturday, August 31. There is also a planned counter-protest by anti-fascist groups South Tyneside Unites and Newcastle Unites.

Ocean Road is at the heart of the borough’s Muslim community, and people living in the street have appealed for the authorities to ban the protest.

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Judge refuses to let Muslim woman enter plea unless she removes veil

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A judge has refused to allow a Muslim woman to stand trial in a full-length burqa as he said it would be possible for another person to enter the dock pretending to be her.

Judge Peter Murphy told the 21-year-old defendant from Hackney in east London that he would not allow her to enter a plea in court until she showed her face.

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‘Disgusting’ Islamophobic DVDs sent to London mosques

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Anti-Muslim DVDMosques and Muslim organisations in London have been sent Islamophobic DVDs containing highly offensive material.

They were received around the time of the Muslim holiday Eid and contain a mixture of insults to the Prophet Muhammad, a pornographic film and news footage about extremism. Some of the DVDs were addressed to “His Wonderous Cleric of Islam” making it initially appear to contain something positive.

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Posted in UK

Owen Jones replies to Nick Cohen

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Owen Jones responds to Nick Cohen’s Spectator article defending Richard Dawkins, in which Cohen accuses Dawkins’ critics of cowardice for refusing to join him in attacking Islam.

Jones concludes: “Nick Cohen concludes that one day there will be a reckoning. Yes, there certainly will be. In past eras, other communities faced pandemic bigotry in Britain: like Irish people and Jewish people. History has judged kindly those who challenged such prejudice. It has not been so kind to those who failed to do so. Those few of us with a public voice who defend Muslims from bigoted generalisations are currently fighting an unpopular battle. But it the right thing to do, and history will absolve us.”

Independent, 23 August 2013