Pastor Terry Jones banned from entering UK

An American preacher who threatened a mass public burning of the Koran has been banned from entering the UK.

Pastor Terry Jones provoked international outrage when he organised the stunt to coincide with the anniversary of the September 11 attacks last year. Pressured by the White House, he eventually called off the mass burning.

Jones had been invited to speak at rallies organised by the small far-right group "England Is Ours." But the Home Office has prevented him entering the country, euronews reports.

A Home Office spokesman said: "The Government opposes extremism in all its forms which is why we have excluded Pastor Terry Jones from the UK."

In a statement, Mr Jones said: "This ban exemplifies the sabotage of the basic human rights of freedom of speech and freedom of expression. The ban also proves the effectiveness of the threat of militant Islam in the UK as one is not free to travel to the UK due to the speculation of violence."

A member of his staff at the Dove World Outreach Centre in Gainesville, Florida, US, said a letter from the Home Office had been received by courier on Wednesday informing Mr Jones of the ban. She said the letter mentioned the risk of "disruption", Telegraph.co.uk reports.