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Columns of masked Muslim men were seen chanting "Allahu Akbar" in London in a march against a Ukip demonstration in the capital.
The party, now led by Nick Tenconi, had been due to stage a protest in Whitechapel - which was called off over a "realistic prospect of serious disorder" due to its large Muslim population.
His protest was moved nine miles from the borough of Tower Hamlets following a ban imposed by Scotland Yard.
A mass counter-march went ahead there, which is led by convicted fraudster mayor Lutfur Rahman.
The decision to ban Ukip from marching in Whitechapel, where at least 42.1 per cent of residents identify as Muslim, was welcomed in the local area.
On the street, a protester shouted through a megaphone: "They [Ukip] came specifically targeting Islam. They said: 'We are coming on a crusade,' they said: 'We need to take back our streets.'
Hundreds, if not thousands, of masked protesters marched through Whitechapel
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GETTY
"We stand firm to let them know if you come, we will stand firm and will be ready to defend our elders, to defend our women, to defend our community.
"We have never once said we were going on crusades or going into your areas to cause you problems.
"You are coming into our homes and you want to cause us problems. What is wrong with us standing up?"
Rahman said: "We will still hold our peaceful march in Whitechapel on Saturday to celebrate our diversity and unity. From the Battle of Cable Street to today, the far-right has never succeeded in dividing our community, and they never will."
Huge crowds of masked men could be seen marching through the area chanting "Allahu Akbar", or "God is great", in Arabic.
In one clip, a protester holding a "Stand Up To Racism" sponsored placard could be heard saying: "There’s no need for that - we’re on the same side bruv."
A voice from the marching crowd then shouted back: "No we're not!"
Palestinian and Bangladeshi flags were seen as demonstrators prayed in the street on Saturday
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GETTY
Ukip's protesters instead gathered in Kensington, west London.
Four counter-demonstrators in the capital's west were then arrested, the Metropolitan Police has said.
Around 75 Ukip supporters assembled in front of the London Oratory, with images from the scene showing protesters holding a banner which said: "Islamist invaders not welcome in Britain."
The Metropolitan Police has since confirmed that four counter-protesters who appeared along the route in breach of conditions had been arrested after refusing to leave.
PICTURED: Columns of masked Muslim men chant 'Allahu Akbar' in London
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X
Around 75 Ukip supporters assembled in front of the London Oratory
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Four counter protesters who appeared along the route in breach of the conditions in place and refused to leave have been arrested."
However, the force said that no arrests had been made at the main location of the counter-demonstration in Whitechapel.
Protesters taking part in the Stand Up To Racism counter-protest were restricted from gathering in an area of central London, including where the Ukip protest was due to take place.
Ukip's demonstration is part of a series of events taking place across the UK, which were promoted as a “mass deportations tour”, with organisers calling on attendees to “reclaim Whitechapel from the Islamists”
The party, now led by Nick Tenconi, had been due to stage a protest in Whitechapel - which was called off over a "realistic prospect of serious disorder" due to its large Muslim population.
His protest was moved nine miles from the borough of Tower Hamlets following a ban imposed by Scotland Yard.
A mass counter-march went ahead there, which is led by convicted fraudster mayor Lutfur Rahman.
The decision to ban Ukip from marching in Whitechapel, where at least 42.1 per cent of residents identify as Muslim, was welcomed in the local area.
On the street, a protester shouted through a megaphone: "They [Ukip] came specifically targeting Islam. They said: 'We are coming on a crusade,' they said: 'We need to take back our streets.'
Hundreds, if not thousands, of masked protesters marched through Whitechapel
|
GETTY
"We stand firm to let them know if you come, we will stand firm and will be ready to defend our elders, to defend our women, to defend our community.
"We have never once said we were going on crusades or going into your areas to cause you problems.
"You are coming into our homes and you want to cause us problems. What is wrong with us standing up?"
Rahman said: "We will still hold our peaceful march in Whitechapel on Saturday to celebrate our diversity and unity. From the Battle of Cable Street to today, the far-right has never succeeded in dividing our community, and they never will."
Huge crowds of masked men could be seen marching through the area chanting "Allahu Akbar", or "God is great", in Arabic.
In one clip, a protester holding a "Stand Up To Racism" sponsored placard could be heard saying: "There’s no need for that - we’re on the same side bruv."
A voice from the marching crowd then shouted back: "No we're not!"
Palestinian and Bangladeshi flags were seen as demonstrators prayed in the street on Saturday
|
GETTY
Ukip's protesters instead gathered in Kensington, west London.
Four counter-demonstrators in the capital's west were then arrested, the Metropolitan Police has said.
Around 75 Ukip supporters assembled in front of the London Oratory, with images from the scene showing protesters holding a banner which said: "Islamist invaders not welcome in Britain."
The Metropolitan Police has since confirmed that four counter-protesters who appeared along the route in breach of conditions had been arrested after refusing to leave.
PICTURED: Columns of masked Muslim men chant 'Allahu Akbar' in London
|
X
Around 75 Ukip supporters assembled in front of the London Oratory
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Four counter protesters who appeared along the route in breach of the conditions in place and refused to leave have been arrested."
However, the force said that no arrests had been made at the main location of the counter-demonstration in Whitechapel.
Protesters taking part in the Stand Up To Racism counter-protest were restricted from gathering in an area of central London, including where the Ukip protest was due to take place.
Ukip's demonstration is part of a series of events taking place across the UK, which were promoted as a “mass deportations tour”, with organisers calling on attendees to “reclaim Whitechapel from the Islamists”
