Trump backers try to arrest London mayor

Khan speech delayed as opposition group causes disruption

The Washington Post

An anti-Islamic nationalist wheeled a homemade gallows into central London, led a group of men into a conference hall and attempted to “arrest” the city’s first Muslim mayor as he gave a speech on Saturday.

The group failed, and was eventually escorted out by the same police officers they had asked to apprehend Mayor Sadiq Khan.

They still managed to delay the speech for 15 minutes as they accused Mr. Khan of treachery, tyranny and disrespecting President Donald Trump.

Mr. Trump — who once sought to ban Muslims from U.S. shores and called Mr. Khan “pathetic” after a terrorist attack in London last year —- earlier this week abruptly canceled plans to visit the city.

Mr. Khan was one of many Britons who welcomed the news, claiming Mr. Trump had been scared off by threats of mass protests.

The mayor was scheduled to give a speech at a left-leaning think tank, the Fabian Society, on Saturday.

In the mayor’s own words, it was about “about how we cannot allow a populist, anti-feminist narrative the English Defense to take hold in Britain.” League, a well-known farright

But as Mr. Khan prepared organization. Mr. Russell to give his address, a also hosts an antiman named Davey Russell Islamic radio show, which and about half a dozen others Kent Online reported was towed a wooden frame raided by police several with a noose onto a street years ago. outside the auditorium. On Saturday, Mr. Russell

They had decorated it told reporters that he believed with the emblem of a white he had the law on his dragon, and written on the side. top: “TAKE BACK He accused Khan of cooperating CONTROL.” with terrorists and

Mr. Russell told reporters placing himself above the outside the conference that law, and said the mayor had his group was called the no right to criticize Trump. Pendragons. “He should keep his nose

But an ITV reporter, out of state affairs and look among others, identified out for what’s going on in him as a leading member of London,” Mr. Russell said.

Carrying a piece of paper on which he had outlined the mayor’s alleged crimes, Mr. Russell walked with his Pendragons to the front of the auditorium and began to live stream.

Mr. Khan took the microphone and managed to say, “Thank you,” before a man in a trench coat approached the table and interrupted his speech.

Eventually, a constable arrived and asked Mr. Russell to leave.

Mr. Khan stood up and resumed his speech.

“It’s a pleasure to be here,” he said, “even though we were distracted by the actions of what some would call very stable geniuses.”