Cologne anti-mosque conference cancelled

Anti-nazi protestors have forced the cancellation of a right-wing conference to protest against the building of a giant new mosque in the German city of Cologne.

Two leaders of the so-called ‘pro-Cologne movement’ were attacked as they attempted to enter the conference venue, an incident which led to running battles in the streets between supporters of the opposing factions and the police.

The German nationalist leaders were turned away from the conference venue on orders from the city’s mayor and the meeting has now been banned by the state police.

A group of right-wing activists has also been held at the nearby Cologne-Bonn airport.

The proposed large-domed mosque with two 55-metre minarets is planned for the city’s mainly immigrant Ehrenfeld district. Costing an estimated 25 million euros, construction is due to begin by the end of this year.

An interior ministry official also condemned the conference, saying the event was damaging the good relations between the city and its Muslim population.

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