Legoland Windsor has cancelled a private booking from a Muslin organisation, citing threatening messages from “a small but vociferous group”.
The theme park was booked by the Muslim Research and Development Foundation (MRDF) for 9 March, before the start of its opening season.
The news was strongly criticised by right-wing political groups such as the English Defence League and the emerging Casuals United.
A number of confrontational posts from users on the park’s Facebook page led to the removal of the public-commenting facility in recent days.
Legoland said in a statement that the decision to cancel the event was “extremely difficult”.
It added: “Sadly it our belief that deliberate misinformation fuelled by a small, but vociferous group with a clear agenda was designed to expressly to achieve just this outcome.
“We are apalled at what has occurred, and the fact that the real losers in this are the many families and children who were looking forward to an enjoyable day out.
“We would like to apologise to them and to the organisers, and to thank them for their understanding”
Controversy
The MRDF is headed by controversial Muslim cleric Haitham al-Haddad, who has been banned from speaking at a number of UK universities.
He has made statements identifying homosexuality as a “criminal act” and the favouring non-interference in domestic violence which have attracted controversy.
He was quoted as identifying Jews as “enemies of god” and describing them as “decedents of apes and pigs” – although he claims to have been inaccurately represented, referring to specific Jews.
The MRDF hired Chessington World of Adventures in 2013, with the event also attracting considerable controversy once news of it emerged.