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EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this story said the group Never Again Canada claimed responsibility for the protest when in fact they had just attended.

A small group of protesters demonstrated outside of a mosque in downtown Toronto Friday with signs, banners and megaphones calling for the banning of Islam while people prayed inside.

Toronto Police Const. Allyson Douglas-Cook said protesters gathered outside the Masjid Toronto, a mosque near Dundas Street West and Chestnut Street, for an “anti-Islamic protest” with signs just after noon.

Douglas-Cook added a group of up to 50 protesters marched from 361 University Avenue to the mosque while police maintained the peace nearby.

READ MORE: What you need to know about the anti-Islamophobia motion making waves in Ottawa

Some of the signs posted on social media from the protest showed hateful slogans such as “Say No To Islam,” “Ban Islam,” “Muslims Are Terrorists” and “Less Islam Brings Less Terror No Islam No Terror.”

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“My coworker and I came downstairs because we could hear it from the 21st floor and we saw the signs and people screaming through a megaphone about horrible, hateful things about Muslims,” said Tera Goldblatt, who works nearby.

“There were probably about 15 people with signs, big, big banners, megaphone, screaming about all this crazy stuff.”

Estelle Amaron, who lives nearby, said she saw a video of the protest on social media and decided to drop off a card outside the mosque to show her support for the Muslim community.

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“[I wrote] that I was very sorry for what happened today and that this was not the Canada that I live in and that we all live together and we’re all together and I just signed it as a neighbour and a friend,” Amaron said she wrote on the card.

“I just want people to just get along and just know that we’re all part of this country. Most of us are immigrants or come from immigrants and nobody’s here to say you can’t.”

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Bryant Greenbaum said he was walking in the area when he saw the protest, which he described as “disgusting.”

“People are going to espouse hate, there’s nothing you can do about it,” he said.

“And it’s one thing to say you’re espousing freedom of expression a few blocks away, but right in front of a place of worship?”

READ MORE: Conservatives supported ‘condemning all forms of Islamophobia’ in October

Mohamed Abdi, a member of the mosque, said he was disappointed after hearing of the demonstration.

“It’s pretty sad and a little bit surprising since I’ve been seeing so much positive responses lately so it’s a little bit sad to hear that that happened,” he said.

“I think that people who still want to come for Friday Prayer and just in general are hopefully still going to come but it could be the opposite.”

Toronto Mayor John Tory said in a tweet that “Islamophobia has NO place in our city,” adding he had visited Masjid Toronto many times and he denounces “all acts of hatred towards our Muslim citizens.”

Kristyn Wong-Tam, a Toronto city councillor, made a similar statement on social media and called the protest “awful.”

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Members of a group called Never Again Canada attended the protest. Photos from the event were published on the group’s Facebook page, along with a post that said it was in “support of free speech.”

“No to M-103, no to wife-beating and no to child marriage. We will never be silenced. Stop Sharia, it’s a crime in Canada,” a post on the group’s Facebook page read.

“We went to the Toronto mosque which is know to be affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood as well. Thanks to everyone for coming and standing with us join the movment [sic].”

Abdi said members of the mosque would be holding an open house on Feb. 25 to have a conversation with Muslim and non-Muslim community members s they can learn more about the mosque.

“It’s a good time to have a conversation to see a community maybe different than yours and to meet some good positive people,” he said.

With files from Adam Dabrowski

People left cards and notes of support at the mosque following the protest. (Adam Dabrowski/Global News). Adam Dabrowski / Global News

Islamophobia has NO place in our city. I've visited Masjid Toronto many times & denounce all acts of hatred towards our Muslim citizens. — John Tory (@JohnTory) February 17, 2017

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Awful protest at Masjid Toronto today; has moved to mosque at Church/Adelaide. No place for Islamaphobia in TO #cdnPoli #TOPoli #solidarity — Kristyn Wong-Tam (@kristynwongtam) February 17, 2017

In wake of murder of 6 in Quebec we must reject fear and ignorance and stand by Muslim sisters and brothers #cdnPoli #TOPoli #solidarity https://t.co/Sote3ZYcR6 — Kristyn Wong-Tam (@kristynwongtam) February 17, 2017

Needless to say, countering Islamophobia and all forms of bigotry is not just political but personal. Love will always prevail. https://t.co/L2bzFSC0yz — Kristyn Wong-Tam (@kristynwongtam) February 17, 2017

As ppl go to pray, there's an awful protest outside Toronto Masjid with signs like "Ban Islam" and "Muslims are terrorists" #m103 #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/pGwJamurUu — Safiah (@SafiahC) February 17, 2017

Toronto is not immune from racism.These shameless, hateful & totally misguided ppl protested in front of a peaceful mosque today. #TOpoli pic.twitter.com/ckePjGV56Y — Natalie Roth (@natalieroth) February 17, 2017

Canadians came out in support of Muslim community after racist mob harasses mosque-goers this afternoon

Lets do it TOGETHER #MakeItAwkward pic.twitter.com/1iloTIXgc2 — Farina Siddiqui (@FarinaSiddiqui) February 17, 2017