Nigel Farage has compared âterrifyingâ columns of masked Muslim men to a âforeign invading armyâ when asked about the recent march in east London.
A group of masked Muslim protesters descended on Whitehall to âstand firmâ and show that they were âready to defend our communityâ in retaliation against a United Kingdom Independence Party (Ukip) protest on Saturday.
Donning black clothing and balaclavas, the group brandished Palestinian and Bangladeshi flags as they marched down Whitehall.
Now, finally giving a verdict on the matter, Mr Farage fumed: âThere was proper racism happening in Tower Hamlets over the weekend.â
He added derisively that it was âintimidation to the point of sort of basically urging the mass wipe out of huge numbers of Jewish peopleâ.
âI actually think itâs one of the most terrifying things Iâve ever seen in my whole life.â
Mr Farageâs comments followed the major protest and counter-protest over the weekend, with one of the men shouting through a megaphone to âstand firmâ and âdefend our communityâ.
The columns of masked Muslim men could be seen chanting âAllahu Akbarâ in London as hordes of men marched along the way.
Mr Farage compared the masked Muslim men to a âforeign invading armyâ
Today, the Reform UK chief candidly admitted: âI thought the scenes were absolutely terrifying.
âIt was like a foreign invading army marching through our streets.
âI defy anyone in this room to tell me thatâs wrong. I really, genuinely do.â
The UKIP demonstration was restricted by the Metropolitan Police due to fears of disorder in Tower Hamlets, which has one of the highest Muslim populations in the UK.
Earlier in the week, the police force made that decision amid fears that it could stir up âserious disorderâ. The decision was subsequently welcomed in the community.
On the street, a protester was seen shouting through a megaphone: âThey [Ukip] came specifically targeting Islam. They said: âWe are coming on a crusade,â they said: âWe need to take back our streets.â
âWe 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.
âWe have never once said we were going on crusades or going into your areas to cause you problems.
UKIP leader Nick Tenconi addressed demonstrators in London on Saturday afternoon
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âYou are coming into our homes and you want to cause us problems. What is wrong with us standing up?â
Metropolitan Police said that the decision to impose Public Order Act conditions on the Ukip protest was for the sake of public safety and to ensure that order was maintained.
Such conditions meant that the party could not hold their protest in Whitechapel or elsewhere across Tower Hamlets.
Meanwhile, the counter-protest, which was led by organisers at Stand Up To Racism, was allowed to gather in Whitechapel from midday.
