EDL crashed book club meeting thinking Russell Brand was there

Members of the English Defence League disrupted a book club meeting because they thought Russell Brand was going to be there Credit: REUTERS/Olivia Harris

A book club meeting was disrupted last week as English Defence League members crashed the event under the mistaken belief that Russell Brand was going to be there.

Police were called to Bar Loco in Newcastle on Wednesday after reports that EDL members had disrupted a meeting to discuss the comedian's new book Revolution by chanting and singing Islamophobic chants.

It is believed that the protesters thought Brand was actually going to be at the event in person.

Brand joked about the book club meeting disruption by retweeting a message about him being due to sign books in London next month along with the message "Great. Now EDL know."

Bar Loco, where the book club was held, said the disruption of the event was unacceptable. The bar tweeted:

A message on the bar's facebook page added "we are a performance / music and great food venue and do not favour one political view over another. Spread love, not war."