EDL demo update

Thousands of activists and local residents have turned out to show their opposition to the English Defence League at a rally in Whitechapel today ignoring the Mayor's call for people to stay at home.

Hundreds of police and their vans currently separate the EDL in Aldgate and a break-away group of around 500 anti-racists, including anarchists and local youths, in Aldgate East in an attempt to prevent clashes between the two.

The official anti-EDL demonstration of no more than a 1,000 people, organised by United East End, a coalition of local community groups, and Unite Against Fascism, a Socialist Worker Party group, is being held around 100 metres east up Whitechapel Road with a small stage hosting musicians and speakers.

The police, community leaders and stewards have formed a line across the road preventing them from joining the activists already at Aldgate East.

So far it would appear there has been no trouble between the two groups or police.

When the EDL arrived in Aldgate carrying flags displaying the Union Jack and Stars and Stripes the chanting began with calls for it to be removed from 'our' streets and that if it was not for the 'coppers' they would be dead.

Meanwhile police surveillance units are operating with a helicopter circling constantly overhead.

The EDL claim it is only against radical Islam while anti-racists accuse it of being Islamaphobic pointing out members' associations with far right organisations including the BNP.