Posted on 09/18/2006 6:53:14 PM PDT by blam
Police patrols at churches stepped up in Pope row
By John Steele and Jonathan Petre, Religion Correspondent
(Filed: 19/09/2006)
Police patrols have been increased around hundreds of churches and mosques because of fears that the Pope's comments about Islam could provoke violence.
Clergy in the London area have been visited by officers or have been asked to contact their local stations urgently to discuss security. They have been given numbers to call if their churches are attacked.
In what Scotland Yard described as a "reassurance" exercise, it decided at the weekend to act quickly to increase security around churches and mosques.
So far there have been no incidents of violence in Britain as a result of the anger over the comments of Pope Benedict XVI and there is no specific intelligence of attacks. But the row this year over the Danish cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed flared unexpectedly into violence around the world.
Some other forces in England and Wales, particularly those with large Asian communities, are believed to have followed the example of the Metropolitan Police.
It emerged yesterday that Scotland Yard has launched an inquiry into complaints about offensive protests by Muslim extremists outside Westminster Cathedral on Sunday. A well-known extremist, who was accompanied by scores of demonstrators from a group called Muslims of the UK, was reported to have called for the Pope to be "executed".
The protesters chanted and waved placards as worshippers left morning Mass. Some of them wore camouflage gear; others wore dark glasses and covered their faces.
An investigation into a demonstration outside the Danish embassy this year led to serious criminal charges. However, police sources said that, so far, the evidence from the Westminster incident had not suggested offences of the seriousness of the Danish protest, which included alleged soliciting to murder.
Tarique Ghaffur, the Met's assistant commissioner in charge of public order policing, said: "We have a long history of facilitating lawful demonstration and are keen to continue dialogue with any group wishing to protest. What we will not allow is for people to attend demonstrations and break the law."
A London priest, who did not wish to be named, said that he was given "an urgent message" to contact the police. He was put straight through to the control room and told about the patrols.
He said he feared that the increased police presence could be an overreaction and might inflame the situation.
Ghandi used Passive Resistence and it worked against the British then and the Muslems will use it also.
That's because they don't have guns.
We do.
'xactly right, ladyjane!
That is why are heathens behave better the the UK'S.
We need to keep our powder dry. Not much from the Gun Grabbers lately.
If there was any good fallout from Katrina it's that people realize the importance of self-defense.
"And you dare want to prevent us from protecting ourselves? I am truly offended". Said in sarcasm to the extreme.
Well, duh. The cops were on the scene (see Little Green Footballs) but, like the "cartoon" demos they arrest later (maybe) rather than inflame the rabble at the time.
Pope row? How about a Pope Benedict vs. Ayatollah Khameni smackdown?
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