`British soldiers go to hell,` protesters chanted

Muslim protest mars Cameron’s east London visit

Muslim protest mars Cameron’s east London visit

By Alex Stevenson

David Cameron’s welfare reform launch suffered a minor setback from disruption by a small group of Muslim protesters.

The prime minister was highlighting Iain Duncan Smith’s welfare reform bill in Toynbee Hall, east London, when police guarding the venue were surprised by a group of around ten men.

One demonstrator was overheard telling police officers he was from Walthamstow. The men focused their anger against Mr Cameron on Britain’s foreign policy.

The protesters held placards stating “Women are provided for under Islam” and chanted “UK, UK, Islam is on its way”.

They called on the government to withdraw from “Muslim lands” including Afghanistan and Iraq and shouted “British soldiers go to hell”.

“Withdraw your soldiers from Afghanistan and you will be saving the economy,” one protester suggested.

Another explained afterwards that the small-scale demonstration had been organised by “Muslims who have got upset”.