FEARS over anti-Islamic aggression on the streets have seen Greenwich police numbers boosted.

Metropolitan Police officers from all over the capital are being redeployed to manage potential hot-spots in Operation Calm as tension rises over what retaliation will be taken following the terrorist attack in Manhattan.

Greenwich has been earmarked for particular attention by senior Met officers, who believe the borough's large Islamic community may be a target for hard-right groups intent on finding a scapegoat for the US deaths.

Superintendent Mark Simmons, of Greenwich Police, explained the aims of Operation Calm. He said: “Running right across London, extra officers are being sent to areas where there is increased tension or fear.

“On a daily basis, 25 additional officers are on the streets of Greenwich. They are directed to pay attention to buildings such as mosques which, in the current political circumstances, are vulnerable to be targets for disorder.

“There have been no reports of increased activity by right-wing groups since the terrorist attack in America but, if a retaliatory attack is launched in the Middle East, then tension is bound to rise.

“We are also using our intelligence resources to monitor right-wing groups and areas of the borough we know to have been troubled by racism in the past.”

Supt Simmons said an example of the increased sensitivity was an assault on a Somali youth in Plumstead High Street last week. He said despite the fact there is no evidence the assault was racially-motivated, there has been speculation in the Islamic community it was connected with the terrorist attack in Manhattan.

He added the extra officers assigned to Greenwich were useful in dealing with the crime and the search for witnesses after the assault.

Members of Greenwich's Islamic community also outlined their fears over retaliation on their own doorsteps at a recent meeting to discuss the implications of war in Afganistan.

Their concern stems from their experiences during the Gulf War, when the Woolwich Mosque was firebombed four times.

Spokesman for Muslim Action Team Usman Ali insisted at the meeting any targeting of Muslims in the area over the coming months will not be tolerated.

He said: “If racist groups like the BNP and Combat 18 try to use the terrorist attack in America as an excuse to attack our community, we will defend ourselves.”

csteel@london.newsquest.co.uk