Updated: Terry Jones no longer attending EDL meet

Update: The Pastor will not be attending the EDL meeting. He has accepted an alternative invite by the National Front.

Original: Recent news that Terry Jones, the anti-Muslim American Pastor who threatened to burn the Koran is to address an English Defence League rally in February has re-ignited fears that gangs of racist thugs are gaining prominence.

The U.S. pastor caused outrage with plans to burn copies of the Holy scripture at this year’s anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. However, the Government have powers to prevent Jones from entering Britain and it is widely expected that Home Secretary Teresa May will ban Jones from coming to the UK. A petition to the Home Secretary to ban Jones is available here. 

The police have expressed their concern at the growing number of racist right wing groups. Adrian Tudway, head of the police intelligence unit on domestic extremism, revealed that the EDL and related splinter groups have become his ­biggest concern. He says: "We look at the extreme Right and Left, but currently our biggest single area of business is the various groups which call themselves 'defence leagues'."