- Donald Trump claims Met police are terrified in radical areas of the capital
- Scotland Yard hit back in rare statement: ‘Trump could not be more wrong’
- But several serving officers said there are some safety fears in London
- One said: ‘Trump’s not wrong. He pointed out something plainly obvious’
- Another said: ‘Islamification is occurring. You have to have extra vigilance’
- Cameron and Boris lead condemnation but Trump calls critics ‘foolish’
- 7 people per second sign 200,000-strong petition calling for UK to ban him
Serving police officers today backed Donald Trump’s claim that some Muslim communities in the UK are no-go areas because of extremism.
Several Met officers have said the ‘Islamification’ of some parts of the capital requires ‘extra vigilance’ and they can’t wear uniforms for safety reasons – despite Scotland Yard claiming the tycoon ‘couldn’t be more wrong’.
Home Secretary Theresa May tonight rejected Mr Trump’s claims, insisting: ‘The police in London are not afraid to go out and police the streets.’
The US presidential contender caused worldwide consternation yesterday after a string of incendiary remarks about Muslims, including in Britain, and said: ‘We have places in London and other places that are so radicalised that police are afraid for their own lives.’
But one serving officer said today Trump had ‘pointed out something plainly obvious, something which I think we aren’t as a nation willing to own up to’.
Another policeman said that he and other colleagues fear being terror targets and spoke of the ‘dire warning’ from bosses not to wear a uniform ‘even in my own car’.
It came as more than 250,000 people – seven people every second – signed a petition demanding Mr Trump is banned from Britain for being a ‘hate preacher’ – an idea rejected by Chancellor George Osborne.
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