London Mayor Sadiq Khan says it would be wrong for Britain to host US President Donald Trump on a state visit, describing some of the US leader's views on Islam as "ignorant".
Mr Khan and Mr Trump have a history. During the US Presidential election campaign, Mr Khan was among many people who spoke out against Mr Trump's proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States, an idea he said would play into the hands of extremists.
Mr Trump has criticised Mr Khan, accusing the Mayor of making a "pathetic excuse" over his statement urging Londoners not to be alarmed by the presence of additional police on the streets in response to an attack in June.
At the annual conference of his opposition Labour Party, Mr Khan told an audience with GuardianLive that he thought having a state visit, which Prime Minister Theresa May has said is still planned, was "wrong".
"I sometimes think people are ignorant," he said, adding that it was his job to educate them.
Mr Khan also said that police had thwarted seven attacks by militants since March this year, describing the increase in the number as a shift rather than a spike.
He added police need more spending to help them counter such attacks and that internet companies must do more to crackdown on extremist content.
"Between March this year and now, there have been four attacks but seven have been thwarted," he said.
Earlier this month, the head of the city's police force said six militant plots had been foiled over the last several months.
Earlier this year, Britons vowed to 'moon' Mr Trump should he ever visit London.
Reuters
