As thousands of English Defence League and anti-fascist protestors took to a city’s streets yesterday, a remarkable scene unfolded away from the crowds in a back lane.

Onlookers feared the worst as a row flared between EDL chief Tommy Robinson and Muslim political commentator Mohammed Ansar.

But within moments the pair stunned watchers... by smiling and embracing each other.

“It’s something I never thought I’d see,” said a man who witnessed the bizarre scene in a side street just before the EDL and anti-fascist Newcastle Unites rallies started on Tyneside.

“These two having a ­debate in a back lane while ­thousands were demonstrating – and then ­cuddling and embracing.”

And the truce seemed to spread as the demos in the wake of Woolwich went peacefully even though up to 2,000 people took part in the EDL event and nearly 400 in the Newcastle Unites rally.

Chief Supt Gary Calvert said: “I am pleased this passed off without ­major incident. Disruption was kept to a minimum. There were a number of arrests mainly to do with alcohol or to prevent public order offences – but most took place before the protests started and most of those taking part were well behaved.”

There has been a huge increase in anti-Muslim incidents since Lee Rigby’s murder, an inter-faith ­charity has revealed.

A number of people have been arrested after alleged offensive comments on social media websites and four people have been charged by police.

Faith Matters, which runs a ­helpline, said they had received more than 150 calls since the attack.

Fiyaz Mughal, director of Faith Matters, told the BBC: “What’s ­really concerning is the spread of these incidents. They’re coming in from right across the country.”



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It looks like the EDL & Muslims have decided to come together in the UK and live in Harmony because of this woolwich attack.

I've seen them two on telly having um debates. If by debate you mean a controlled discussion that never strays from the cliched, officially sanctioned areas.....

I don't even watch TV, save for QT every now and then, you know, for laughs, but I'm sick of hearing about this.

EVERYONE is talking about it, and I can't really understand the phenomena. It makes me think of 9/11 ad 7/7 in that people's reactions have been so extreme and long-lasting but I can only put the longevity of this reaction down to the fact that most people have been played like a violin from point A by the media on this issue.

It's been quite interesting to experience actually, from the pov of someone who tries to remain un-influenced by news stories as much as possible, and just get all the facts for himself.

Present company accepted, I've yet to meet a real-life human bean who thinks that this event was anything other than a terrible tragedy or something for which 'we' (presumably anybody who happens not to be a muslim) must take vengeance. That's about the scope of opinions I've experienced so far. Not once has anyone even questioned the story or indeed the reactions of people to it, and I find this particularly worrying.

I have tried to understand why this case was so different from a regular murder in London, which I imagine, statistically at least, happens every day. Yes, it was particularly brutal...but then, murder often is. Very often, unless the issue involved a child or a 'famous' person, we've forgotten about it by tea time the next day though.

I know it's unfashionable, even here, but something about this just isn't right. And now this recent shit? I for one shall be remaining uber-suspicious. And if that makes me a paranoid conspiracy-nut, then so be it.

EDL seen giving the nazi salute by the war memorial in London. Good boost for the soldiers that.

Muslims fear backlash after UK soldier's killing
By Ben Brumfield, CNN
May 27, 2013 -- Updated 1544 GMT (2344 HKT)

CNN) -- Fears were growing in Britain Monday of a surge in Islamophobia in the wake of the knifing death of a British soldier last week that his suspected attackers claimed was revenge for the deaths of Muslims worldwide.
Officers arrested two men in the town of Grimsby on England's east coast on suspicion of arson after a mosque was set on fire, according to Humberside county police. No one was injured in the blaze.
The anti-Muslim English Defence League demonstrated in the town's center the morning before the fire. On Monday hundreds of EDL supporters marched near the central London office of Prime Minister David Cameron.
Enraged by the murder of British soldier Lee Rigby in the southeast London neighborhood of Woolwich Wednesday, the EDL has called for marches around the UK.
In a demonstration in Newcastle on Saturday, angry supporters cried out for Muslims to leave the country. EDL demonstrators threw objects at counter demonstrators, and police stepped in to keep the raucous men from going after their opponents.

The rest is here...
edition.cnn.com/2013/05/27/world/europe/uk-mosque-fire/

There's a really frightening level of hatred and calls for violence towards Muslims being openly expressed around the internet, by people you'd hope would know better.

Never seen them come out like they have in there droves and condemn an attack

entrangermercenary1 wrote: This is exactly the sort of mature response I would expect from someone who claims to have inside knowledge of Combat 18. Although, the words that best describe you are 'Walter' and 'Mitty'.

I'm not bothered what you think about me. You know nothing about me, and this is who you are:

Therefore, no-one is going to take your views seriously. Even in an armed forces forum, you would be laughed out of there immediately if you posted anything like that. It's you that despises this country, not me, because you go against all of the values that it's supposed to stand for (but never has). But I wouldn't expect you to know that because you don't know your own history.

I'm sorry that you're still butthurt about something that I said four years ago, but obviously you're too immature to get over it, despite your advancing years, and you still feel the need to engage in pointless, rabid, borderline illiterate attacks against me in a vain attempt to mitigate the fact that you know what I said is completely true.

That's fine. I don't have anything against you personally, I feel sorry for you. Still trying to be the big man when you're old enough to be a grandfather, and there are literally tens of millions, if not billions, of people in the world who could wipe the floor with you. It's sad to see. It's only going to get worse for you from hereon in as your body continues to decompose. Maybe your brain will make up for it...

As for making not-at-all veiled physical threats toward me, I think that's pretty despicable, but other people can make up their own mind.

Incidentally, for anyone reading this, I'd just like to point out that I don't advocate violence under any circumstances, as it could be inferred from this post that I do.

Help for Heroes have told the EDL where to shove their collection money apparently

A Help for Heroes spokesman said: "He's the only one that's come to our attention but tonight we'll be doing a cross-count to make sure that anyone else that's saying they're EDL will not be allowed to fundraise for us.

Help for Heroes rejects English Defence League cash

Armed forces charity says donations from EDL leader Tommy Robinson will be refunded in line with non-political stance



EDL leader Tommy Robinson
Tommy Robinson addresses English Defence League supporters near Downing Street on 'a day of respect for our armed forces'. Photograph: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images

Forces charity Help for Heroes has announced that it will not accept any donations raised by the leader of the English Defence League Tommy Robinson.

The EDL leader started fundraising following last week's murder of soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich, south-east London, but a spokesman for Help for Heroes said the Just Giving page set up by Robinson would be closed down and all donations would be refunded.

The charity will check for any further donations from EDL members and said they would not accept any donations from the group.

A Help for Heroes spokesman said: "He is the only one that has come to our attention but tonight we will be doing a cross-count to make sure that anyone else saying they are EDL will not be allowed to fundraise for us.

"It is the same for any political party, we do not allow political fundraising. As a charity, we are non-political."

Robinson's Just Giving page shows that the EDL leader has raised more than £3,300 so far and was aiming to raise £5,000 with a sponsored walk across London.

On the page, Robinson wrote: "On Saturday the 29th June I am going to walk from Westminster in West London to Woolwich in East London (Just over 17 miles) to lay a wreath in support of our troops (Lee Rigby RIP). I plan to raise as much money as possible for Help for Heroes.

"As you can probably tell the last time I exercised was at school, I think a 17 mile walk might be end of me! The chance of me popping my clogs due to my fitness or the likely threat I will have from the religion of peace throughout the route might even tempt David Cameron and the rest of his weak leadership to sponsor me on the off chance that this was to happen!"

Earlier on Monday, more than 1,000 far-right supporters gathered outside Downing Street, where Robinson addressed the crowd.

The EDL demonstrators chanted "Muslim killers off our streets" and "There's only one Lee Rigby" as they marched through London.

Robinson told the demonstration: "This is a day of respect for our armed forces", and "They've had their Arab spring. This is time for the English spring."