Stars and Stripes burned in protest outside US embassy

A number of radical Islamic groups, including Muslims Against Crusades (MAC) gathered outside the embassy on the tenth anniversary of the attacks.

The Prince of Wales and Prime Minister David Cameron joined bereaved relatives at an emotional ceremony in the 11 September memorial garden in Grosvenor Square.

Prince Charles said the families’ loved ones were “cruelly, brutally and pointlessly torn from them” when “so much premeditated death and destruction” came out of the skies on 11 September, 2001.

He added that the “dreadful act of violence” of 9/11 was intended to divide the world but had actually drawn people together, “one person to another, one community to another”.

Nearby, a group of about 100 men shouted “USA terrorists” and brandished placards with anti-American slogans.

Earlier, a group of far-right English Defence League protesters, who had gathered in response to the demonstration, had been ordered to move on.

One of the people attending the Grosvenor Square memorial services said the protesters should have been stopped from standing across the road from the embassy.

The man, whose cousin died in the 9/11 attacks, said: “They shouldn’t be allowed to do it. It’s very disrespectful. It’s too loud.”

A small group of Muslims staged a counter-demonstration nearby, holding up placards reading “Muslims Against Extremism” and “If You Want Sharia, Move To Saudi”.

Abdul Sallam, 41, travelled down to London from his home in Glasgow to show the strength of his feelings.

He said: “I’m a Muslim. What they’re doing is bringing shame on all Muslims.

“Islam is all about peace, but what they want to do is hate other people. Islam teaches you that when you see anything bad or evil, you should speak out against it.

“If the moderate Muslims all came out and spoke out, that would defeat them.”