Hundreds of Muslims form protective ring around mosque and shops amid fear of EDL march

Crowd of men, some wearing masks and hoods, could be heard chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’

Hundreds of Muslims formed a protective ring around a mosque and shops on Monday, amid fears of an English Defence League (EDL) march.
Rumours of a demonstration by the far-Right EDL prompted locals in Bordesley Green, Birmingham, to stand guard around the Village Islamic Centre, with local shops shut and a hospital sending staff home in anticipation of violence.
Hundreds of men wearing masks and balaclavas gathered near a McDonald’s in the city amid speculation there would be a far-Right demonstration.
In one video on X, a crowd of men, some wearing masks and hoods, could be heard chanting “Allahu Akbar” as they vowed to “protect” themselves.
One man was seen to be wielding what appeared to be a large bat.
During a Sky News live broadcast, presenter Becky Johnson was interrupted by a masked protester at the same site who sped up behind her on a motorbike.
He shouted: “Yo, free Palestine, f— the EDL” in a clip shared online.
The broadcast was quickly ended and security sent to the reporter, according to Sky News.
A former independent MP candidate urged fellow Muslims not to “go out” and “confront” Right-wing extremists.
Shakeel Afsar, who unsuccessfully stood as an independent for the Birmingham Hall Green and Mosley seat, told followers in a video on X: “We must not give the Right-wing extremists what they want.
“When they’re turning up to city centres there is no need for us to go there and try to confront them.
“Yes, if they announce that they are doing a protest outside a Masjid (mosque), you have the right to go inside, pray and defend the Masjid.
“But if they’re coming into city centres, my dear brothers, do not go there.”
Mr Afsar previously led a religious protest over LGBT lessons outside a primary school in Birmingham, despite having no children at the school himself.
The demonstration was later banned by a judge .
British Muslims have warned others to pray before leaving the house and to not walk the streets alone amid fears they would be targeted by far-Right rioters.
Some took to social media to claim they were frightened to take their children out, while other women claimed they had chosen to temporarily not wear their hijabs, for fear the head scarf would draw unwanted attention.
In a clip shared on social media, a video appeared to show vandalised Muslim graves in a Lancashire cemetery.
Footage showed white paint splashed over the gravestones.
A poster on X read: “This is appalling and another new low.
“Muslim gravestones within a cemetery in Burnley have been vandalised with white paint and desecrated.”
Police said they were treating the incident as a hate crime.
Meanwhile, residents outside the Waterloo Road mosque in Middlesbrough told journalists: “We’re going to be paying for this, and for what?
“This has got nothing to do with three little girls that have lost their lives. They’ve used it to cause utter mayhem on our streets.”
And on TikTok a Muslim woman warned more than 11,000 followers to take precautions when leaving the house.
Urging those who live near affected areas to “put safety first” the woman said: “If you are living in these cities or around the areas, please remember as Muslims to tie your camel.
“Recite your Duas before leaving the house. If you can, take someone with you when you’re leaving the house, do not walk the streets alone, because it is not safe.”
The phrase “tie your camel” generally refers to the idea of taking the necessary steps to be healthy and help yourself, while “Duas” are prayers to Allah asking for help or assistance.
On another TikTok account, a young woman posted a video of herself wearing a hijab with text reading: “Any other hijabis that don’t feel safe going out in the UK?”
One comment read: “My mum’s just asked me to take my hijab off because she’s scared that I’ll get attacked when I’m commuting to work on the train.”
Another said: “I’ve just had to cancel a trip with my kids to the beach as we don’t feel safe.”