HARROW is bracing itself for another day of protests on its streets as anti-Islam group prepares to demonstrate outside the borough's largest mosque.

Members of Stop the Islamisation of Europe (SIOE) are planning to come to the borough this afternoon to protest outside Harrow Central Mosque.

The islamophobic organisation says it wants to “prevent Islam becoming a dominant political force in Europe” and is targeting the Station Road mosque because it claims it will be used as a “staging post for jihadists”.

Any protesters who turn up are likely to face a counter-demonstration being organised by Unite Aganist Fascism (UAF), in a potential re-run of September 11, when SIOE first tried to protest outside the mosque and were chased away by an angry mob which had gathered in the streets of Wealdstone.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson joined community leaders in issuing a plea to Harrow residents to stay away from the mosque today to avoid any violence flaring up.

He said: “The message is you don't need to turn up in order to safeguard the right for people to go about their business and to go to prayer at the mosque.

“Police will be there to do that. You don't need to turn up to demonstrate against a demonstration.”

SIOE has been making pleas via its website for people of all faiths and nationalities to turn up to the protest, but they were pointedly shunned by members of Harrow's Jewish community this week.

Top Rabbis from Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue, Middlesex New Synagogue, Harrow and Wembley Progressive Synagogue, and Kol Chai Hatch End Jewish Community issued a letter saying: “As leaders of the Jewish community in Harrow, we are writing to express our support for our Muslim friends and neighbours, especially those at Harrow Central Mosque, who are under attack from those whose only purpose is to spread hatred and fear.

“We share the desire of the Muslim community of Harrow to respect our mutual traditions, to learn from each other's cultures and ways of life, and to live together in peace.”

Despite calls from the mosque for people to stay away today, Labour politicians from the council have said they plan to attend the UAF rally but will not condone any violence or anti-social behaviour.

However, their stands drew criticism from Councillor Susan Hall, deputy leader of the council, who accused Labour of “grandstanding”, and said by turning up to the protest they could be doing more harm than good.

Police are bracing themselves for similar scenes to last time, when they made ten arrests – mostly for weapons possession – are came under attack from anti-fascist protesters.

A section 60 stop and search order is in place allowing police to search people in the area without needing a specific reason, with the intention of preventing violence breaking out.

You can track the progress of the mosque protests by logging on to www.harrowtimes.co.uk