Video: Holy smoke: Will Islamic extremists ignite rioting across Europe?

European capitals have become stages for anti-Western protests, by those outraged by the US made film ‘Innocence of Muslims’. But are calls for a holy war a sincere protest or a recruiting strategy of radical groups?

­A wave of anti-American rallies, that started in Muslim countries a week ago, have spread rapidly to Europe, engulfing Paris, Berlin, London, Antwerp and other major cities.

The low-budget film ‘Innocence of Muslims’ depicting the Prophet Muhammad as a fraudster and child molester provoked a varying reactions amongst the Muslim community. While one called for their religion to be respected, others called for American embassies to be burned down. Now, as the outrage has engulfed Europe, protests there differ, too.

Thus, a demonstration in Belgium’s Gent gathered around a hundred or so young Muslims, chanting "We want respect”, with the small rally wrapping up without incident.

In Antwerp, though, police had to detain 120 people. Around two hundred of those demonstrating were carrying black flags associated with the Salafi radical Islam sect, chanting anti-US slogans such as "Obama go to hell” and refusing to disperse. In total, some 250 protesters were detained in Belgium over the weekend.

Reports suggest the radical Islamic group, Shariah4Belgium, have been behind calls to stage major protests in Belgium. Muslim leaders in the country, though clearly disapproving of the film, wasted no time in condemn the street violence. (continue reading...)