Blair cancels London book event amid security fears

LONDON – Tony Blair on Monday canceled a high-profile book-signing session of his best-selling memoirs in the British capital amid rising security fears and expected large-scale protests.

“I’m really sorry for those – as ever a majority – who would have come to have their books signed by me in person. I hope they understand,” the former Labour prime minister said in a statement.

His decision to call off the high-profile signing in London came two days after anti-war protestors threw eggs and shoes at him at a signing in Dublin, Ireland.

Blair said he will deliver signed copies of his autobiography – “A Journey” – to Waterstone’s bookstore in Piccadilly, where the signing was set for Wednesday.

Anti-war protestors had vowed to turn up in large numbers for the event, and some groups had called for a “peaceful citizen’s arrest” of the former leader, whom they want to be held accountable for “war crimes.”

Feelings are still running high in Britain over Blair’s tenure, during which he joined the 2003 United States invasion of Iraq and sent British troops to Afghanistan.