East End gay march scrapped as organiser is exposed as 'far-Right infiltrator'

A gay pride march through the East End has been called off after one of the organisers was alleged to have been an infiltrator from the English Defence League.

The event, planned for April 2, collapsed amid claims that it was being exploited by the far Right to antagonise the Muslim community in Tower Hamlets and stoke racial tensions.

East End Gay Pride was arranged after stickers appeared warning that the neighbourhood was a "gay free zone" and "Verily, Allah is severe in punishment". But there were also suspicions they were a far-Right hoax. The march has now been shelved after one organiser, Raymond Berry, was alleged to have been an EDL member. He is understood to have left the EDL.

Jack Gilbert, co-chairman of local gay community group Rainbow Hamlets, said: "We believe that misinformation has been cynically spread about local life, and concerns about the 'gay-free zone' stickers have been manipulated to suit an extremist agenda that promotes hostility and prejudice between communities."

People apparently with EDL sympathies also signed up to the march's Facebook page. Its organisers accused other local gay groups of a "personal vendetta" against Mr Berry and trying to "divide the community".

In a statement, they said: "The entire East End Gay Pride team had nothing but good intentions for this event. We planned to make it a fun march with no hatred being shown." Mr Berry did not respond to requests for a comment.

There are plans for a pride event in Victoria Park this year to "build community life" in Tower Hamlets. Peter Tatchell, founder of OutRage!, said: "Muslim organisations and speakers should be invited to participate in the rescheduled East London Pride." A man was arrested and released without charge over the stickers. Tower Hamlets police said the inquiry was still active.