A DAY of protests and counter protests over a mosque was hailed as a “victory for the people of Harrow” after there were no arrests.

Anti-fascists and Islamophobics chanted slogans at each other from behind crowd control barriers and lines of police, opposite Harrow Central Mosque, in Station Road.

Members of Stop Islamisation of Europe (SIOE) say there are no moderate Muslims but were met with widespread condemnation and a counter demonstration by Unite Against Fascism (UAF).

Before the event there were fears there would be a repeat of violent scenes during protests organised by the same groups on September 11, but there were no arrests.

Ghulam Rabbani, general secretary of the mosque, described the day as “a victory for the people of Harrow” and a defeat for the anti-mosque campaigners.

He said: “The Muslims are an integral part of Harrow and continue to play an active role in all its activities, just like any other residents.”

He added: “The local Muslim community heeded the mosque’s advice to stay away and leave the protection of the mosque to the police who did an excellent job.”

SIOE initially pledged to bring 2,000 supporters to the protest – a claim Mr Rabbani described as an “exaggeration beyond belief”.

There were between 20 and 40 anti-mosque campaigners, along with around 200 mosque supporters.