Police investigate possible EDL links to Islamic centre fire.
Police are investigating a fire that nearly destroyed an Islamic community center and mosque — a suspicious fire following protests an fears of reprisals after the Woolwich murder of British Army soldier Lee Rigby. “EDL” graffiti was found on the burnt building, which police are studying for a connection to the English Defence League..
Sayed Bana, 60, a committee member at the Somali Bravanese Centre in Muswell Hill, invited offenders behind the arson fire of the Muswell Hill mosque to end their campaign of violence and come to the negotiating table as the cross community hub lay in ruins.
The English Defence League (EDL) is defined as a far-right street protest movement which opposes “the spread of Islamism, Sharia law and Islamic extremism in the United Kingdom.”
The EDL has been described as Islamophobic. The group has faced confrontations with various groups, including supporters of Unite Against Fascism (UAF) and Anonymous.
Bana’s call for peace came as English Defence League supporters taking to social media sites praised the apparent arson attack and called for further attacks on the Muslim community.
The fire occurred following the Wednesday May 22, 2013 attack that killed British soldier Lee Rigby.
British Army soldier, Drummer (Private) Lee Rigby of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, was killed by two assailants near the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, southeast London, in a terrorist attack while he was off duty and walking along Wellington Street.