Tension was high as angry protests greeted a visit to the UK by a Dutch far-right MP.

Around 40 Muslim demonstrators gathered near the Houses of Parliament as Geert Wilders arrived in central London.

Brandishing banners saying "Shariah is the solution, freedom go to hell" and "Geert Wilders deserves Islamic punishment", the protesters were held back by police.

Mr Wilders' press conference was moved inside the Abbey Gardens building opposite the Houses of Parliament.

Abu Muaz, from Islam For UK, said: "If I were to say some of the things he has said I would be arrested under the Terrorism Act. But because there is a war on Muslims he gets an easy ride."

Addressing journalists alongside UKIP peer Lord Pearson, Mr Wilders said his visit was "a victory".

Explaining his controversial views on Islam, he said: "I have a problem with the Islamic ideology, the Islamic culture, because I feel that the more Islam that we get in our societies the less freedom that we get."




photos