Police say far-right group will be diverted from borough centre but anti-racism groups and trade union call for show of unity

Thousands are expected to take to the streets of east London on Saturday to oppose a demonstration by the far-right group the English Defence League.

The Metropolitan police announced earlier this week that the EDL's planned protest would be prevented from entering the "heart of Tower Hamlets" and would be subject to strict controls.

But local politicians and anti-racist campaigners say they are still expecting thousands to demonstrate against the EDL.

The counter-demonstration is supported by the Tower Hamlets mayor, Lutfur Rahman. He said that while he welcomes the police decision to restrict the EDL to the outskirts of the borough it did not go far enough.

"Allowing it to go ahead risks community cohesion, could result in disorder, threaten public safety and risks the threat of violence to property, police personnel and the local community," he said.

The call for an outright ban was echoed by Rushanara Ali, the Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, earlier this week.

The EDL, which has held a series of violent and provocative anti-Muslim demonstrations in towns and cities across England since it was formed, has been accused of using the murder of British soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich in May to garner support.

In June, a mosque and community centre in Muswell Hill, north London, was burnt to the ground and the letters EDL scrawled on the walls.

Weyman Bennett, of Unite Against Fascism which is helping organise Saturday's counter-demonstration, said: "We need the maximum unity to oppose the attacks on Muslims and to keep the EDL out of Tower Hamlets."

The demonstration has the support of several major trade unions. Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite, said: "The EDL has nothing to offer the people of Tower Hamlets but hatred and fear. Not the jobs, hope or strong communities, the very things I saw people striving for when I visited the area and the east London and Brick Lane mosques earlier this summer."

He said Unite was calling on its members to support the counter-demonstration. "Unite urges the biggest turnout this Saturday for the UAF/United East End community mobilisation to keep Tower Hamlets safe."

Chief Superintendent Jim Read from the Met said the force had tried to balance the right to protest with the need to protect the local community when it took the decision to restrict the EDL demonstration to the outskirts of the borough.

"The communities have made it clear to us the impact that groups expressing extreme views has upon them. We have listened to those concerns, and we will keep working with all our communities."

He added: "These conditions prevent the EDL from entering the heart of Tower Hamlets, residential areas and religious premises which would have been unnecessarily intimidating and likely to cause disorder and disruption."