The far right group had wanted to march through Tower Hamlets. This London borough in the East End has the largest Muslim population in the country. The EDL had planned to pass the large east London mosque and end up here in the Altab Ali park. The move sparked outrage – because this park is named after a young Bangladeshi man killed in a racist attack back in 1978.
But instead – it was thousands of anti-fascist demonstrators that filled the park.
Fearing the provocative route would cause serious public disorder, the police had put restrictions on the EDL march. In response, the EDL took the police to court to get the restrictions removed – but they lost.
Almost 37% of tower hamlet’s residents are Muslims. At the east London mosque, assistant executive director, shaynul khan, told me the mosque regularly reaches out to the entire community.
Categories: Europe
