A planned march to Woolwich tomorrow (June 29) by far-right group the EDL has been banned by police – but its leader has vowed to visit anyway.
The group had planned to end an Armed Forces Day march – billed as a charity walk – in Woolwich where Drummer Lee Rigby was killed in May. But the police have announced new conditions imposed on the event.
A Met spokeswoman said: “Yesterday, Thursday, June 27 we advised them of conditions which we have imposed on the procession and also on the proposed assembly in Woolwich.
“The Section 12 (3) notice under the Public Order Act 1986 imposes a route on the proposed procession of EDL members and supporters starting at Hyde Park Corner and ending at Old Palace Yard.
“The condition has been imposed due to concerns that the procession may result in serious public disorder and serious disruption to the life of the community.”
They added: “Breach of the conditions is a criminal offence, and anyone breaching them may find themselves liable to arrest.”
But EDL leader Tommy Robinson said this afternoon that he would still turn up with fellow member Kev Carroll. He tweeted: “We will be laying flowers at Artillery place, woolwich, se18 4a at 2 pm. If anyone attempts to join me and Kev on our walk we will be nicked.”
Earlier this week, two American anti-Muslim activists who planned to join the event were banned from entering the UK by the Home Office. Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer, who set up Stop Islamization of America and run the website Jihad Watch, were blocked because their presence would “not be conducive to the public good”.
The Met clamped down on a similar event organised by the BNP earlier this month after Mr Rigby’s death.