Anger at Islamic group's march plans

Friends of a British soldier killed in Afghanistan spoke today of their anger at plans by a controversial Islamic group to march through the British town which honours fallen troops.

The Union flag-draped coffins carrying Rifleman Aidan Howell and Sapper David Watson were driven through Wootton Bassett, in Wiltshire, for their repatriation today.

Sapper Watson, 23, of 33 Engineer Regiment – a bomb disposal expert – and Rifleman Howell, 19, of 3rd Battalion the Rifles, were killed in Afghanistan in the last week of December.

Their repatriation comes as Islam4UK said it would apply to Wiltshire Police “in the next few days” to march through the town famous for honouring dead British troops, despite calls for it to be called off.

Anjem Choudary, leader of Islam4UK, said it was “full steam ahead” for the march campaigning for the withdrawal of British troops.

A date for the event, featuring 500 people carrying symbolic coffins, has not been set but it will not coincide with a repatriation.

Friends of Rifleman Howell criticised Islam4UK for suggesting Wootton Bassett as a venue for the march.

“If they want to protest they should do it in London against the Government, not here. Wootton Bassett is where the soldiers come back, all of them, as heroes,” said Steven Stratford.

MPs from across the Commons have signed a motion urging action by the Home Secretary and local authorities to prevent the march, which they said would be “a gross mark of disrespect” to soldiers who have died or been injured.

The motion, tabled by Tory Nigel Evans, calls on Home Secretary Alan Johnson to “urgently investigate the breaching of public order and other related offence” and urges Wootton Bassett Town Council and Wiltshire Police “to ensure that any proposed demonstration that breaches the Public Order Act 1986 be rightly refused”.

But Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), said he would be “surprised” if senior officers in Wiltshire seek to block the protest because any group has a right to march even if their views are “unpleasant and offensive”.

He said: “Our view is we will have to deal with it, people have a right to march. People might not like it but that is the law.”

He added: “It can be the case that if you ban something it becomes more popular to turn up to. You then have a mass unlawful protest.

“It will be one that requires pretty clear thinking, but it is far too early really because all we have is the threat of a march.”