Muslim extremists who want Britain ruled by fundamentalist Islamic law said they they were right to abandon plans for an unofficial rally in London.
Anjem Choudary, the UK head of Al-Muhajiroun, said their rally instead went ahead in Essex and described proceedings there “as absolutely fine”.
The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, threatened to prosecute organisers if they went ahead with the Trafalgar Square rally, with the anti-Islamic British National Party poised to send activists.
But Al-Muhajiroun changed their plans this morning, claiming they could not guarantee the safety of the hundreds who were attending the event.
Mr Choudary told PA News: “There were Muslims from Derby, Nottingham, Luton and Birmingham. It was a very, very good day and we did not have any problems that we would have had in Trafalgar Square.
“The purpose of this rally was to pass the message that people need to think about Islam as an alternative to their lifestyle.”
He added: “We do believe that Islam is the future of Britain and the supreme ideology.
“We were not able to address the thousands which would have come to Trafalgar Square, but having said that, the messages have been passed on.”
Mr Choudary went on: “Islam will be dominant in Britain. Either wilfully or through the foreign policy of an Islamic state, law and ordered will be changed in Britain and it will be governed by Sharia.”
But he insisted that did not mean the group wanted to force Britons to adopt Islam individually.