Offensive poster was put up outside Bartlett Park, Poplar
Offensive poster was put up outside Bartlett Park, Poplar Twitter

An area of east London has become 'Islamic' overnight according to a poster that has appeared outside an east London Park.

The warning in Bartlett Park, Poplar, reads: "Do not walk your dog here! Muslims do not like dogs. This is an Islamic area now."

Police are now investigating the matter after being alerted to the sign by Labour MP Jim Fitzpatrick, who was himself informed by a concerned constitutent.

The Poplar and Limehouse MP wrote to police to find out if the "highly divisive" sign was put up by Islamists or a far-right group such as the English Defence League (EDL), and to see what action they were taking to prevent posters from appearing in future.

He told the Standard: "The question is whether it was put up to be provocative or by religious zealots to be racist.

"It's another facet of intolerance, or, because there's no guarantee it was done by Islamists, it could be those in society who are trying to polarise and divide us.

"Whichever side it was ought not to be able to get away with it and whoever's responsible ought to pack it in."

Police have removed the signs and a number of officers are guarding the area after being alerted by the MP.

Tower Hamlets Borough Commander Dave Stringer said: "Bartlett Park does not have any history of community tension; however we are investigating the posting of these signs and conducting additional patrols to ensure that community reassurance and confidence are maintained in the area.

"At this time we retain an open mind concerning the motive behind the putting up of these signs."

A Tower Hamlets council spokesman said: "We have been alerted to a fly-poster stuck on a sign post near Bartlett Park, E14. We have removed it and are liaising with the police to investigate this alarming and divisive poster.

"The council actively promotes the No Place for Hate campaign, whereby people of different faiths, cultures, lifestyles and backgrounds live in harmony. This means we support community cohesion and would not want the actions of any individual or small group to impact on this."