The Muslim Research and Development Foundation has said the national press and far-right groups exploited its plans to have a private family fun day at Legoland as an excuse to “attack Islam and Muslims in the UK”.

The Muslim Research and Development Foundation’s (MRDF) event at Legoland, which was planned for this Sunday, was cancelled by the resort after threats from right-wing groups.

Legoland said that in the run-up the event, several right-wing groups issued threats against it employees in relation to the planned event and staff at the Muslim Research and Development Foundation also received threats, it said, from groups including the English Defence League. 

The English Defence League has denied allegations that it made threats towards the charity, saying it is committed to non-violent action. It says it complained about the event because MRDF is led by what it alleges to be a"hate preacher".  It said that it was glad that Legoland had listened to its complaints and had decided to cancel the event. 

MRDF has not yet responded to the EDL's allegations. 

The Legoland resort is currently closed for the winter, but opens for private hires.

Legoland has today taken the decision to also close its hotel this weekend in light of safety and security concerns.

In a statement today, the Muslim Research and Development Foundation said threats from far-right groups and articles in the national press had fuelled further “hatred and resentment” towards the event.

“It was evident from these hate articles and threats that this was not an attack on MRDF alone but was an outright attack on Islam and Muslims in the UK,” the statement said.