Man wearing Isis flag 'not breaking UK law'

A man walking around London draped in an Islamic State flag was not breaking the law, UK police say.

Images posted on Twitter show the man with a small child on his shoulders outside the Houses of Parliament.

Social media users have criticised police for not arresting the man and have asked how the man's actions were not an offence, the Guardian reported.

However, Metropolitan police said in a statement the man's actions were not considered unlawful.

\"The man was spoken to by officers, with consideration given to relevant legislation, particularly the Public Order Act. The decision was taken by officers at the time that the man was acting within the law. He was not arrested,\" police said. 

\"Wearing, carrying or displaying of an emblem or flag, by itself, is not an offence unless the way in which, or the circumstance in which, the emblem is wo, carried or displayed is such as to cause reasonable suspicion that the person is a supporter or member of a proscribed organisation.

\"While support of and membership of ISIS is unlawful it is not a criminal offence to advocate the creation of an independent state.\"

Images of the man were posted on a Korean forum after a tourist spotted him in central London, the Guardian said.