Police expect 300 protesters at Sydney mosque

Another pro-Islamic protester said Muhammad Ibrahim he was not there to retaliate against the anti-Muslim group.

A strong police presence is keeping the two groups apart.

For more than an hour Matt and his dog Freddy maintained a lonely existence in front of the police cordon.

“It’s one of those situations where you have to be careful and read the situation as it unfolds”, he said.

‘Mate even my dog doesn’t like Muslims’.

Meanwhile outside the mosque, members of the anti-Islamic group used a megaphone to ask the pro-Islamic group “why they were colluding with Muslims”. “We do not need scumbags in the community”.

Officers, including members of the tactical response group, had cordoned off the street and put a 100 metre barrier in place to separate the clashing protesters.

An 18-year-old remains in custody and is still being questioned by police.

The head of a mosque at the centre of last week’s Sydney shooting yesterday issued a fierce attack on Islamist extremists, telling worshippers “if you don’t like Australia, leave”.

Mr El-Kadomi again denounced terrorism on Friday evening.

“Because during the week, unfortunately, we had groups of people that had very un-Australian actions coming and trying to attack the mosque and the Muslims”, he said.

His supporters waved placards reading “Say No to Sharia” and “Multiculturalism is poison”.

He says the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security are also aware of the planned protests.

Officers escorted people as they dispersed.

They shouted rebuttals at Party for Freedom, yelling “no hate no fear”.

About a dozen worshippers remained locked inside the Parramatta Mosque where leader Neil El-Kadomi held a prayer meeting.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has called for calm ahead of a far right protest outside the Parramatta mosque this afternoon and other similar planned rallies across the country, saying vilifying community groups is “contrary to our national interest”.

Buses reported delays of up to 40 minutes, with two bus stops avoided.

Superintendent Wayne Cox, Commander of Parramatta Local Area Command, has reminded the public that police have not authorised any formal applications for public assemblies in Parramatta today.

‘We are here to take a strong stand against these kind of views, ‘ a man addressing the anti-racist crowd said.

On one side of the exclusion zone, a small group of about 35 people were calling for the mosque to be shut down.

“We live in this community, in this society”, he said. “Needs to be done to every masjid with paid or proud Australian sheiks”.

He said it was appalling that Mr Cheng was killed and the majority of Muslims did not endorse violence.

“When you ignore them they get into mischief, as I said, if you don’t look after them, then a few of the outsiders are going to guide them to do something wrong”. “The community, the school, the police, the government are ignoring the youth”.

“As police, our message is that any act of violence, regardless of the motivation will not be tolerated, and will be treated as the serious offence that it is”.