Anti-racists and Muslim communities will protest outside the BBC this evening to condemn the BBC’s 'silence' in regard to the horrific shooting of three Muslims in the USA.

Demonstrators say in stark contrast to the Paris shootings, there was no immediate coverage, it was not headline news or even covered in the main news bulletins.

On the other hand there was widespread coverage on social media, where #MuslimLivesMatter trended - a reference to the racist nature of the attack and the lack of coverage of it.

Craig Hicks, 46, who describes himself as a "gun toting" atheist, appeared in court charged with the first-degree murder of Deah Barakat, 23, his wife Yusor Mohammad, 21, and her sister Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on Tuesday.

Police and the FBI are trying to determine whether the killing of three Muslims during a neighbourhood parking and noise dispute was a hate crime.

About 2,000 people attended a candlelight vigil for the victims in the heart of the University of North Carolina's campus last night.

Sabby Dhalu, Organiser of Stand up to racism said, "Our condolences and thoughts are with the families and friends of Deah Shaddy Barakat, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha,and her sister, Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha. We support their calls for this to be considered a hate crime.

"Any loss of life should be treated equally. Muslim people are consistently portrayed as the perpetrators but not the victims of terrorism and hatred.

"We are saddened by the lack of media coverage in this case, which stands in stark contrast to the wall to wall top story coverage that the Paris shootings rightfully received.

"Politicians and influential figures lined up to blame the entire Muslim community for those horrific actions and 'kill all muslims' trended worldwide on twitter without an international outcry.

"We are concerned that attacks against the Muslim community are taking place in a heightened climate of Islamophobia and hatred. We will say loudly and clearly tonight that Muslim lives matter, all attacks of this nature should be brought to justice and receive equal coverage."

Weyman Bennett, Joint National Secretary Unite Against Fascism said, "The prevalence of racism and Islamophobia means that when Muslim and Black people are murdered, their plight is willfully ignored. In a modern democracy, the first right is a right to life. To deny Muslim people equal treatment is a reflection of anti-Muslim racism in our society.

"We must stand in solidarity with the Muslim community. They are today's scapegoats. Tomorrow it will be others."

Muslim Lives Matter : Emergency protest Thursday 12 February 5-6pm Outside BBC Broadcasting House Portland Place London.