Police vow amid mounting tension

HUMBERSIDE Police say they are closely monitoring social media amid mounting tension following the murder of a British soldier.

Two people have been arrested on suspicion of arson following reports petrol bombs were thrown inside a mosque in Grimsby.

Meanwhile, it emerged last night Muslim prisoners making "extremist demands" held a prison officer hostage at HMP Full Sutton, near Pocklington, on Sunday.

Another prison officer is believed to have been injured during the four-hour stand-off, which is now being investigated by police.

Officers are also examining a number of messages posted on social networking sites that appeared to invite people to meet at various locations across the region and cause trouble.

A police spokesman warned: "Those people should be aware that we are monitoring these sites and we will take action against those intent on attempting to incite violence or post messages of a racial nature."

A spokesman for the prison service said the stand-off began at 4.25pm and was resolved at 8.40pm after staff intervened.

They refused to confirm reports it involved three Muslim inmates.

Nationally, there have been reports of a backlash against the Muslim community following the murder of soldier Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich, London, last Wednesday.

A large increase in anti-Muslim incidents and malicious comments on social networking sites has been reported.

Diler Gharib, chairman of the mosque that was attacked, said: "We had just finished our prayers and were discussing how to thank our neighbours for the support they have shown us over the past few days when we heard a bang and saw fire coming under the door.

"I grabbed a fire extinguisher and put it out and then two more petrol bombs hit the fire escape and the bin, so I had to put those out too."

On Saturday, about 100 members of the Hull and East Yorkshire branch of the English Defence League (EDL), many of them holding pictures of Drummer Rigby, marched to the city's war memorial in Ferensway, where flowers were laid and a minute's silence observed.

Witnesses described verbal confrontations between EDL members and those who are opposed to the organisation, although there were no reports of any arrests.

Faith Matters, an organisation that works to reduce extremism and promote peace and understanding between religions, said more than 160 incidents had been reported to its helpline since Drummer Rigby's death.

That compares with an average of four to eight cases a day reported to the group before the attack.

Humberside Police stressed it was too early to speculate that the Grimsby fire was linked to Drummer Rigby's death.

Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Oluwatobi Adebowale, 22, who were arrested on suspicion of murder at the scene in Woolwich, remain under arrest.