Far-right rally planned
at Muslim centre site

Saturday’s rally outside the old Lingfield pub in Alwoodley comes just four days after six men pleaded guilty to a failed plot to blow up a similar demonstration in Dewsbury last year.

A counter demonstration by Unite Against Fascism is also planned.

Mohammed Arif, of UK Islamic Mission (UKIM), which is behind the community centre proposal, said: “It’s really unfortunate that the EDL are bringing people in from outside the locality to create an issue when we have been very transparent about what we are doing, both in the planning process and during consultation meetings.”

UKIM wants to create centre with a public gym, IT suite, library, training facilities. and a prayer room for up to 70 worshippers.

The plan has been at the centre of a storm of controversy, with more than 400 letters of objection over traffic congestion and noise concerns.

The night before a planning meeting to discuss the application in February, the words ‘no mosque’ were daubed on the building.

Councillors approved the plan despite the protests.

Supt Martin Snowden, from North East Leeds Police, said: “We have a duty to protect the right to peaceful protest, and plans are in place so those demonstrating are allowed to do so while causing minimum disruption to local residents and businesses.”

On Tuesday six Islamic extremists pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court to planning a bloody attack on an EDL rally in Dewsbury in 2012 that failed only by chance.

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