MUSLIM men have been urged to not be confrontational ahead of a demonstration outside Harrow Central Mosque this afternoon.

Guest speaker Ajmal Magroor urged the congregation at afternoon prayers to leave the area straight afterwards, and trust the police and security guards to protect the mosque, in Station Road.

Stop the Islamisation of Europe is planning a demonstration this afternoon, with hundreds expected to attend saying they are commemorating the eight anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Mr Magroor told the prayer attendees they should not rise to any confrontation or provocation from protesters, and invited any opponents of the mosque to come in and learn the principles that Islam stands for.

Joining the prayers were Harrow Council officers and politicians from across the political divide, who had turned out en masse to show support for the mosque and for the cohesion of the Harrow community.

Councillor David Ashton, leader of the council, said: “We want to show that the mosque is an essential part of the fabric of the Harrow society. We expect and are delighted that is the case.

“The last thing we want is any outside agitation to disturb the community cohesion we have worked so hard to establish.

“We are the most religiously diverse borough in the country, and we are proud of that. We should be a blueprint for other boroughs, not a target for demonstrations.”

Members of a counter-protest organised by Unite Against Fascism are already beginning to arrive, and officers from the Met's public order force are lining Station Road to fend off potential flashpoints between the two protests.

As a precaution, the civic centre car park has been cleared and cordoned off, and the nearby Costcutter and Civic 9 building, and the war memorial have been boarded up.

Stay in touch with developments at the protest at www.harrowtimes.co.uk, or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Harrow_Times.