An exhibition of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed has been cancelled after police warned it could be “a risk to public safety”.
The show, which was to be held at a location in Southwark, was organised by Anne Marie Waters who runs the organisation Sharia Watch UK which is opposed to what it says is the rise of radical Islamism in the UK.
Writing on its website, Ms Waters said she had taken advice from “both Scotland Yard and counter-terror detectives”.
She said: “There’s a very real possibility that people could be hurt or killed - before, during, and after the event.”
Many Muslims regard depicting images of Muhammad as insulting and it has been cited as a justification for violence - most notably after the murderous attack on the offices of French magazine Charlie Hebdo.
A Met spokesman said: “Southwark officers spoke to the owners of the gallery to ensure they were aware the content of an upcoming exhibition could be viewed as offensive and a risk to public safety.
“The art gallery then made the decision it no longer wished to facilitate the exhibition. The Met’s Counter Terrorism Command were consulted due to the content of the artwork.”
