The U.K. government was on Sunday "actively" considering banning a planned visit to Britain by the Muslim-baiting American pastor, Terry Jones, who has been invited by the far-right English Defence League (ELD) to speak on the "evils of Islam" at a rally in Luton, a predominantly Asian town, on February 5.

Responding to fears that his visit was calculated to whip up hatred, Home Secretary Theresa May said she was considering using her powers to "exclude" people whose presence was seen to not conducive to public good or threatened national security. "Pastor Terry Jones has been on my radar for a few months now. It wasn't clear that he was definitely coming to the U.K. but if it is now clear that he's definitely coming to the U.K., then of course this is a case that I will be actively looking at," Ms. May told Sky News. In the summer, she banned a visit by Zakir Naik, a controversial Muslim preacher from India, after he was reported as suggesting that "every Muslim should be a terrorist".

Mr. Jones, who caused international outrage when he threatened to burn copies of the Quran on this year's 9/11 anniversary, insisted he was "by no means against Muslims" and said: "I would by no means advocate something that would cause a riot or disturbance."

The ELD, formed last year ostensibly to oppose Islamist extremism, has been engaged in a violent campaign against immigrants in general and Muslims in particular. During a previous rally in Luton, its activists attacked Asian property in a spree of violence that left many injured. A march it organised in Peterborough on Saturday also descended in violence.

A spokesman for rights group Hope Not Hate said Mr. Jones's presence in Luton would be "incendiary and highly dangerous".

"Like the EDL, Pastor Jones indiscriminately targets all Muslims and their actions can only lead to increased tensions and racism in our communities," he said even as MPs planned to table an urgent parliamentary motion demanding a ban on the pastor's visit.