May 28, 2013 1.47 pm This story is over 144 months old

Police warn against inciting racial and religious hatred at Lincoln mosque protest march

Lincoln mosque demo: Police warn against inciting racial and religious hatred or violence at a planned protest march against the Lincoln mosque in June.
The site of the former Boultham Dairy, now earmarked for a mosque and supermarket development.

Lincolnshire Police have warned against inciting racial and religious hatred or violence at a planned protest march against the Lincoln mosque on June 8.

The demo is organised via Facebook by a group called East Anglian Patriots, possibly an off-shoot of the English Defence League (EDL). The force said the event was planned before the Woolwich attack last week.

The event is planned for 1pm on June 8 at the site of the former Boultham Dairy, where the new mosque and a supermarket have been approved in November 2012.

The front of the mosque designs in Lincoln.

The front of the mosque designs in Lincoln.

The event organisers say on the poster they are objecting to the “ever-increasing mosque building program that is taking hold in this country and increasing Islam encroachment on our way of life.”

Lincolnshire Police said in a statement they have engaged with the organisers to establish possible numbers and the intentions of those attending.

“Should a protest event take place, ample resources will be in place to ensure public safety,” the force said.

“Any public disorder, or offences related to inciting racial and religious hatred or violence at such an event, will be met with a robust policing response.”

Police also encouraged responsible use of social media in the run-up to the planned event: “Any communications reported to us that breach law may be monitored, captured and robust police action will be considered.”

Growing unrest

Elsewhere in Lincolnshire, two men have been charged with arson with intent to endanger life following an incident at a mosque in Grimsby on Sunday.

CCTV images indicate three petrol bombs being thrown over the gate of the mosque, one of which landed by the door. Worshippers were inside at the time, but no one was injured.

Hundreds of EDL supporters marched through central London on Sunday after the murder of soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich on Wednesday by two men apparently motivated by radical Islam.

In Lincoln last week, Lincolnshire Police arrested and charged a local man over inciting racial hatred on Facebook following the Woolwich attack. He appeared in court at the weekend.

Lincolnshire Police also searched a house in Saxilby, near Lincoln, last week in connection with one of the suspects in the Woolwich attack.