London poppy protest as millions honour war dead

MILLIONS fell silent yesterday led by services in London to remember those who have died in war.

But in the British capital the solemn moment was marred by a small group of protesters styling themselves Muslims Against Crusades, who burned a model of a poppy.

As the clock struck 11am, Britain paused to mark the anniversary of Armistice Day, when peace returned to Europe at the end of the First World War. The agreement between Germany and the Allies after four years of fighting took effect at the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918.

Wearing their poppies with pride, people joined in the two-minute silence as various commemoration services and events were held in several countries.

The protest, in Exhibition Road, Kensington, involved about 30 people.

About 50 counter demonstrators gathered nearby but the two sides were kept apart by police.

Police clashed briefly with members of the group at one stage and at least one man was dragged to the floor and arrested. Order was quickly restored.

Three men were arrested at the scene.

British Defence Secretary Liam Fox and the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams joined war heroes, service personnel, veterans, military associations and schoolchildren for a service of remembrance at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, central London.