This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22852371
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| English Defence League leader condemns attacks on Muslims | English Defence League leader condemns attacks on Muslims |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The leader of the English Defence League has said he "utterly condemns" attacks on Muslims. | The leader of the English Defence League has said he "utterly condemns" attacks on Muslims. |
| Tommy Robinson denied claims his group had firebombed an Islamic community centre in London, where the letters EDL were sprayed on the building. | Tommy Robinson denied claims his group had firebombed an Islamic community centre in London, where the letters EDL were sprayed on the building. |
| He told the BBC the graffiti could have been placed there to make it look as if the group was responsible. | He told the BBC the graffiti could have been placed there to make it look as if the group was responsible. |
| Mr Robinson was speaking after six men were jailed for planning to bomb an EDL rally in West Yorkshire. | Mr Robinson was speaking after six men were jailed for planning to bomb an EDL rally in West Yorkshire. |
| The men, who all lived in or near Birmingham, were each jailed for more than 18 years. Their bomb plot failed because they arrived two hours after last year's rally in Dewsbury had finished. | The men, who all lived in or near Birmingham, were each jailed for more than 18 years. Their bomb plot failed because they arrived two hours after last year's rally in Dewsbury had finished. |
| 'Completely questionable' | 'Completely questionable' |
| Mr Robinson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he condemned all acts of violence by EDL members and the group was about peaceful protest. | Mr Robinson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he condemned all acts of violence by EDL members and the group was about peaceful protest. |
| He denied his group was behind the blaze in Muswell Hill last week. | He denied his group was behind the blaze in Muswell Hill last week. |
| "If something was set fire and someone wrote David Cameron on the side of it, does it mean he did it?" he said. | "If something was set fire and someone wrote David Cameron on the side of it, does it mean he did it?" he said. |
| "If I'm honest, I'm completely sceptical that it is even non-Muslims that have done that." | "If I'm honest, I'm completely sceptical that it is even non-Muslims that have done that." |
| The EDL describes itself as an "inclusive movement dedicated to peacefully protesting against Islamic extremism". | |
| The group says it wants three things - the government to outline a "convincing strategy" for defeating Islamist extremism, the Muslim community to make "serious efforts" to counter extremism, and an open and honest debate about the issue. | |
| It frequently holds demonstrations and has staged several since the killing of soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich, south-east London. | |
| Mr Robinson told the BBC that "non-Muslim working-class communities" did not have a voice and warned "it's not going to end pretty". | |
| "There is a massive undercurrent of anger across this country," he said. | "There is a massive undercurrent of anger across this country," he said. |
| Internment call | |
| While he acknowledged the EDL's tactics were "completely questionable", he said the group had no choice. | While he acknowledged the EDL's tactics were "completely questionable", he said the group had no choice. |
| "What choice do we have as working-class people?" he said. | "What choice do we have as working-class people?" he said. |
| "As soon as you put your head above the parapet you are called a racist or a fascist. Who wants to sit down and talk to us?" | "As soon as you put your head above the parapet you are called a racist or a fascist. Who wants to sit down and talk to us?" |
| He called for the internment of Islamist extremists "recruiting on our streets" and the outlawing of all aspects of Sharia law, which he believed was operating in the UK. | He called for the internment of Islamist extremists "recruiting on our streets" and the outlawing of all aspects of Sharia law, which he believed was operating in the UK. |
| "I'd stop the building of mosques in this country until Islam reforms in such a way and works in this country with Western democracy and freedom," he added. |