Police deployed officers to guard Morden mosque yesterday after extreme racist threats appeared on social media sites calling for it to be burnt to the ground.

The threats follow the murder of 25-year-old Drummer Lee Rigby by two men on Wednesday (May 22) in Woolwich which led to about 250 English Defence League (EDL) supporters rioting outside Woolwich Arsenal station.

The Baitul Futuh Mosque, in London Road, is the largest in western Europe and was targeted on a Facebook page named True British Patriots.

Users on the page referred to Muslims as “f****** muzzies” and called for mosques in Watford, Braintree in Essex and Morden to be burned to the ground.

Following attacks on mosques in Gillingham, Kent and Bolton, one user, Steve Dungey, said: “We need more of this there is a mosque in mordon south london burn it down.”

Yesterday evening, Dean Wyatt (@DWYATT90) posted an apology on Twitter after receiving a caution from the police for posting an offensive tweet.

He wrote: “Anyone fancy doing the mosque in morden over?”

In a series of tweets, he wrote a message of apology: “I published a tweet yesterday about morden mosque which was offensive I sincerely regret writing this tweet and had no intention

"In sighting [sic] any hatred or reaction as a result of my action I’ve been spoken to by police and fully appreciate how my actions may have Misconstrued to the detriment of the community of merton.”

He later tweeted: “Police told me to write it.”

A message of hate appeared in Carshalton Road overnight on Wednesday near Mitcham Junction station which read “Hell 2 Muslims. EDL!”

Merton Council were alerted to the vandalism quickly and a council spokesperson confirmed the graffiti has now been removed.

An extra 1,200 police officers were deployed across London yesterday to prevent anyone trying to exploit the attack.

Worshippers to pray for murdered soldier

Thousands of Muslims from the Ahmadiyya Muslim community will be gathering at Morden mosque this afternoon to offer prayers to Drummer Lee Rigby and condemn the perpetrators of his murder.

National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community UK Rafiq Hayat said: “We stand united with the rest of the country in sharing the deep sorrow and pain following the horrific senseless attack on Wednesday.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Drummer Lee Rigby.

"We hope that the perpetrators of this crime, that is based on a twisted and warped ideology, are brought to justice.

He added: "Islam is a religion of compassion and peace; a religion which considers the killing of an individual akin to killing the whole of humankind.

"Such acts of violence, therefore, have absolutely no place in Islam and can never be justified."