The BBC, Press Association and London 24 have reported on the arrests over the weekend of three men for racially aggravated public order offences at an English Defence League protest which took place on Saturday. The police received no warning that a demonstration would be taking place.

From the BBC:

“Three men arrested [sic] following a protest by members of the English Defence League (EDL) in Chelmsford on Saturday have been released on bail.

“They were held on suspicion of committing racially aggravated public order offences.

“A 35-year-old from Rochester, Kent, a 19-year-old from Dagenham, Essex, and an 18-year-old from Yateley, Hampshire, are due to answer bail on 9 September.

“About 30 people took part in the demonstration, police said.

“A spokesman said no prior notification of the demonstration was given to Essex Police.”

Islamophobia Watch adds that the protest was against plans to build a new Islamic centre in Chelmsford, and that the EDL have been promoting an online petition, ‘Stop The Proposed Mega Mosque in Chelmsford Essex UK’. The petition appears to have attracted a number of bigoted, racist comments as well as incitement to violence, such as "No more mosques. Bomb the shit out of them" and "stop them from living in our lands,full stop".

You can complain to ipetitions about the hateful and threatening commentary here.

UPDATE: See also a report in the Essex Chronicle which states that the protesters chanted racial slurs, including "You burn our poppy, we burn your mosque."