Masked Muslim demonstrators flooded the streets of East London’s Tower Hamlets on Saturday in a heated response to a police decision to ban a planned anti-Islamist march organized by the UK Independence Party (UKIP).
The protest, which took place in the predominantly Muslim Whitechapel area, saw hundreds of participants wearing black clothing, balaclavas, and waving Palestinian and Bangladeshi flags. Many in the crowd performed Islamic prayers in the middle of the street, chanting “Allahu Akbar” as a public display of resistance.
The demonstration followed the Metropolitan Police’s decision to prohibit UKIP’s rally, which was intended as a protest against Islamist and Communist influence in the UK. UKIP leader Nick Marcel Tenconi had described the event as the beginning of a “crusade” to reclaim British streets, prompting backlash from local communities and left-wing activists.
One protester addressed the crowd, saying: “They came targeting Islam. We stand firm to defend our elders, our women, and our community.” The demonstrators accused UKIP of inciting division and hate under the guise of nationalism.
The police justified the ban, citing a high risk of serious disorder if the protest were to take place in Tower Hamlets, which has the highest Muslim population in the country. Despite this, the UKIP march was rerouted to Central London, where participants carried anti-Islamist signs and British flags.
Observers online noted what they described as a double standard in policing, claiming that while a nationalist rally was banned, the counter-protest was allowed to go ahead uninterrupted. Some have compared the day’s events to the historic 1936 Battle of Cable Street, where London’s East End communities stood against fascist demonstrations.
