Muslim group offers Trump lunch after London comments

Jane Onyanga-Omara | USA TODAY

LONDON — A Muslim group in Britain offered to organize a tour of London for Donald Trump and to pay for his lunch after the Republican presidential candidate said that parts of the British capital are "so radicalized the police are afraid for their lives."

Trump made the comments in an interview with MSNBC on Tuesday, after calling for Muslims to be barred from entering the United States, which he said would be "a temporary measure."

A petition to block Trump from entering the United Kingdom was signed by more than 100,000 people by Wednesday, meaning the British parliament has to consider it for debate. Trump owns hotels and golf courses in Scotland and his mother was born in the country.

On Wednesday, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon dropped Trump as a business ambassador for Scotland because of his recent remarks, a Scottish government spokesperson said. He was invited to take on the role in 2006.

Britain's Chancellor George Osborne said Wednesday that there are no plans to bar Trump from the country. He said the politician's views were “nonsense,” but added that it would be wrong to ban presidential candidates.

The Muslim Council of Britain, an umbrella body that lobbies on matters of interest to British Muslims, said Trump does not represent the views of ordinary Americans.

"We reject his ignorant remarks suggesting that London has no-go areas where even the police are afraid to enter," the group said in a statement Tuesday.

"Should he be allowed to enter the U.K., and if he is able to name such areas, we would be happy to organise a multi-faith delegation to accompany Mr Trump and tour these areas and pay for his lunch."

London's police force the Metropolitan Police Service, also known as Scotland Yard, said "Mr. Trump could not be more wrong."

"Any candidate for the presidential election in the United States of America is welcome to receive a briefing from the Met Police on the reality of policing London," the force said in a statement.

Twitter users reacted to Trump's comments about London with the hashtag #TrumpFacts.

Britain so radicalised that the Queen now wears a hijab instead of a crown #TrumpFacts @realDonaldTrump Haha pic.twitter.com/PsFn10OcV0 — Raees Ul Haq (@RaeesUlHaq) December 9, 2015

The wearing of the 'British hijab' is now compulsory amongst men. #trumpfacts pic.twitter.com/jfgHNNHnrf — David Owens (@asoundreaction) December 8, 2015

British banks are so radicalised they're only interested in "the Prophet." #TrumpFacts — Ed O'Meara (@edfomeara) December 9, 2015

A spokeswoman for Prime Minister David Cameron departed from a tradition of not commenting on American presidential candidates, and said: "The Prime Minister completely disagrees with the comments made by Donald Trump, which are divisive, unhelpful and quite simply wrong."

London Mayor Boris Johnson dismissed Trump's comments as "utter nonsense" and said "the only reason I wouldn't go to some parts of New York is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump."