British police have arrested six people on suspicion of inciting racial hatred after a recording of what appeared to be Korans being burned appeared on the internet.
Officers detained two men on September 15th and four more yesterday and all six were bailed pending further inquiries, Northumbria Police said.
“The arrests followed the burning of what are believed to have been two Korans in Gateshead on September 11th,” the spokesman said. “The incident was recorded and a video placed on the internet.”
In a video uploaded to YouTube, six young men in hooded tops or wearing scarves over their faces can be seen pouring petrol on a book and setting it alight, before burning another.
On the video, which appeared to have been filmed behind a pub, they cheer as the first book bursts into flames.
Northumbria Police said the men were not arrested for watching or distributing the video, but on suspicion of burning the Koran.
Gateshead Council and the force issued a joint statement to stress that community relations in the area were good.
“The kind of behaviour displayed in this video is not at all representative of our community as a whole,” it said. “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.”
US Pastor Terry Jones caused a furore earlier this month over his plans to burn a copy of the Koran at his Florida chuch on the anniversary of September 11th.
Although he decided against carrying out his threat, the incident sparked violent protests in many Muslim countries.