An asylum seeker who burnt the Koran has claimed he has been forced into hiding after police warned him of a terror plot to murder him.

Hamit Coskun was woken at 2am on Saturday by officers acting on behalf of the Metropolitan Police who informed him of "an imminent threat", according to his lawyers.

The officers, from the force at his hiding location, are understood to have delivered what is known as an Osman warning.

The 50-year-old was convicted last week of a racially aggravated public order offence after shouting "f*** Islam" and "Islam is religion of terrorism" whilst setting fire to the religious text during a protest on February 13.

Coskun was found guilty at Westminster Magistrates' Court

His supporters have accused the Met Police and Crown Prosecution Service of endangering his life by pursuing the prosecution.

The court heard that Coskun had been forced to leave Turkey two and a half years ago to escape persecution and was living in Derby before moving to a safe house after video of the incident was posted online.

He was prosecuted under the Public Order Act after burning a copy of the Koran outside the Turkish consulate in Knightsbridge.

Critics condemned the prosecution's decision.

Coskun had burned the holy book on the corner of London's Rutland Gardens - home to the Turkish Consulate

Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said: "This decision is wrong. It revives a blasphemy law that parliament repealed."

He added: "Free speech is under threat. I have no confidence in two-tier Keir to defend the rights of the public to criticise all religions."

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch wrote on social media: "De facto blasphemy laws will set this country on the road to ruin. This case should go to appeal."

She continued: "Freedom of belief and freedom not to believe are inalienable rights in Britain. I'll defend those rights to my dying day."

Hamit Coskun pledged to continue burning Korans on a planned tour of Birmingham, Liverpool and Glasgow

The CPS argued that Coskun was not being prosecuted for burning the book but for the combination of his derogatory remarks about Islam and the fact it was done in public.

District Judge John McGarva said: "Your actions in burning the Koran where you did were highly provocative, and your actions were accompanied by bad language in some cases directed toward the religion and were motivated at least in part by hatred of followers of the religion."

Following the verdict, Coskun said the decision was "an assault on free speech".

He pledged to continue burning Korans on a planned tour of Birmingham, Liverpool and Glasgow.