LITTLE support was given to planned protests outside the North Finchley Mosque during an advice surgery by MP Mike Freer on Friday.

Campaigners were due to protest against the Finchley and Golders Green MP’s involvement in the arrest of Sheikh Raed Salah, leader of the Islamic movement in Israel, but did not gain predicted support with about five people attending.

Mr Salah was arrested on a travel ban in June following an appeal from the Conservative MP for him be banned from Britain because of his "history of virulent anti-semitism".

The protest was planned by members of extremist group Muslims against Crusaders who have staged an online attack on the MP through their website.

The protest was due to begin at 2.30pm ahead of Mr Freer's surgery at 3pm.

Nural Alam, of the Islamic Cultural Centre in Finchley, said: “There were a handful of people that came from other parts of the country, who were against Mike Freer holding his surgery in the Islamic Cultural Centre Finchley.”

“These people are not from Barnet and are not known to the ICCF Management nor are they regular members of the congregation in Finchley.”

Mr Freer said in a statement: "I wish to make it clear that the events of Friday in no way reflect the views of the mainstream majority at the North Finchley Mosque. The incident was cause by an extreme group not connected to my local community.

"The management of the Mosque and I have a good relationship and we have frank discussions about issues. On some issues we disagree and on many we agree, they take the view that dialogue is important and they respect my role as MP serving the community and my continued work engaging local communities.

"For many years I have worked on improving inter-faith relations and locally our faiths live harmoniously. We must not allow a small, extreme group from outside the area divide us."