Free Republic

A town famed for honouring dead British solders returning from Afghanistan expressed its dismay yesterday at plans by an extremist Islamic group to march through its streets. Islam4UK, which calls itself a ‘platform’ for the fanatical Al-Muhajiroun movement, said its supporters will parade through Wootton Bassett in the near future. The group’s website said the event is being held ‘not in memory of the occupying and merciless British military’ but of the Muslims ‘murdered in the name of democracy and freedom’. Its leader, Anjem Choudary, said the protest, involving 500 people, would be ‘peaceful’ and that ‘symbolic coffins’ would be...

People in Wootton Bassett, the town famous for honouring dead British soldiers returning from Afghanistan, reacted defiantly on Saturday to news that a controversial Islamic group is to march through its streets. Islam4UK – which calls itself a "platform" for extremist movement al-Muhajiroun – plans to parade through the Wiltshire town in the coming weeks. The group's website says the event is being held "not in memory of the occupying and merciless British military" but of the Muslims its says have been "murdered in the name of democracy and freedom". The town that shows respect for fallen Servicemen should be...

A town famous for honouring dead British soldiers returning from Afghanistan reacted defiantly today to news that a controversial Islamic group is to march through its streets. Islam4UK - which calls itself a 'platform' for extremist movement al-Muhajiroun - plans to parade through Wootton Bassett, in Wiltshire, in the coming weeks. The group's website says the event is being held 'not in memory of the occupying and merciless British military' but of the Muslims its says have been 'murdered in the name of democracy and freedom'. Leader Anjem Choudary said today the protest, involving 500 people, would be peaceful one,...

It has become a town synonymous with honour, respect and a deep appreciation for our Armed Forces. Now Wootton Bassett could be honoured with the title 'Royal' in recognition of its role in the repatriation of British troops. Ever since two old soldiers gave an impromptu salute as a military cortege passed through in 2007, the Wiltshire town comes to a standstill to pay its respects to every fallen soldier en route from RAF Lyneham to Oxford. Now the small Wiltshire market town could find itself being honoured - after the Queen asked Gordon Brown to consider granting it 'Royal'...

Forces to repay town's tributes Members of the armed forces are to parade through the streets of a town in Wiltshire to thank locals for honouring dead British service personnel. Over the past 18 months residents of Wootton Bassett have lined the streets more than 100 times as coffins have been brought through the town. The town is near RAF Lyneham, the airbase to which bodies are repatriated after deaths in Afghanistan or Iraq. Sunday afternoon's tribute will also see a flypast from a Hercules aircraft. In a letter to the town thanking the residents for the gesture, the head...