Police swoop on poppy-burning extremists

Counter terror police have raided properties connected to a poppy-burning extremist group banned by the Home Secretary.

Police raided three addresses in east London linked with Muslims Against Crusades following Theresa May's announcement yesterday. There were no arrests.

The addresses included the Centre for Islamic Services in New Road in Tower Hamlets.

Officers spent more than six hours searching the premises after carrying out search warrants at 11pm last night.

The group announced last night that it was disbanding and had cancelled a demonstration against the Remembrance commemorations which had been planned for today.

However, members of the British National Party went ahead with its counter demo outside the Royal Albert Hall this morning.

Around 60 members of the BNP had camped outside Kensington Gore from 5pm last night saying they feared that supporters of the extremist group could turn up under a different name.

At a demonstration last year Muslims Against Crusades burned two large poppies during a two-minute silence on Remembrance Day and members were arrested.