Extra police have been summoned to patrol the borough’s streets after yesterday’s terror attack in Woolwich.

Waltham Forest is one of the London boroughs benefitting from an increased police presence after 1,200 officers were drafted in to help combat cultural tensions following the killing of a soldier.

The Muslim community was quick to condemn the attack on the man, who eyewitnesses claim was hacked to death by two men shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is great). 

Two men remain under arrest in hospital after being shot by police. 

A passerby filmed one man with bloodied hands saying he carried out the attack because British soldiers 'kill Muslims every day'.

Others have been arrested after attempted retaliations on mosques in Braintree and Gillingham last night and local Muslim figures fear tensions will flare up in Waltham Forest as well.

The Met has responded by increasing patrols and providing more officers – though it is not yet clear how many of the 1,200 have been stationed in Waltham Forest.

A spokesman confirmed no attacks on mosques in Waltham Forest have occurred, while prominent Muslim figures have called for calm in the borough.

Vice chairman of the Waltham Forest Race Equality Council, Afzal Malik, said: “I totally condemn it, it is a horrendous attack. They disgust me. All Muslims here are in shock.

“But I’m very worried about the reaction there could be. I appeal to the Muslim community to be calm and peaceful.

“We have great cultural relations in our borough but this tests them. It’s scary and I hope nothing happens, Waltham Forest is a strong community of all races and creeds. I hope there is no reaction.”