Britons arrested for Qur’an burning

Six men in England have been arrested after two Qur’ans were burned and video of the Sept. 11 act was posted online.

Four men were arrested Wednesday and two men had been arrested Sept. 15 on “suspicion of stirring racial hatred,” a Northumbria police press release said.

The burning took place in Gateshead, located in northern England, on the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York.

Similar Qur’an burnings around the world were spurred by a Florida minister who called for the day to be International Burn-a-Qur’an Day. Pastor Terry Jones sparked outrage in the U.S. after he initially refused to cancel the controversial event. He did call it off during a press conference in front of his church in Gainesville, Fla., on Sept. 9.

But that didn’t stop others from holding Qur’an burnings, including one group who burned the Muslim holy book in New York City.

Police and Gateshead council issued a joint statement about the burning, saying it is not how most people in the town feel or act.

“The kind of behaviour displayed in this video is not at all representative of our community as a whole. Our community is one of mutual respect and we continue to work together with community leaders, residents and people of all faiths and beliefs to maintain good community relations,” the statement said.

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