During a Fox News interview, Steven Emerson, also said ‘Muslim religious police’ in London beat ‘anyone who doesn’t dress according to Muslim, religious Muslim, attire’.

Emerson, who founded a group called The Investigative Project on Terrorism, came under fire by Twitter users who encouraged the hashtag #FoxNewsFacts.

The US commentator was ridiculed on the social media site, with many accusing him of ‘speaking nonsense'.

Birmingham City Council said Mr Emerson's "curious" comments had no foundation, and welcomed his apology, while Birmingham Edgbaston MP Gisela Stuart described the remarks as "stupid".

As well as apologising for his remarks, Emerson has offered to make a donation to Birmingham Children's Hospital.

"I have clearly made a terrible error for which I am deeply sorry," said Emerson, "My comments about Birmingham were totally in error."

He said he would be issuing an apology on his website for "this comment about the beautiful city of Birmingham".

"I do not intend to justify or mitigate my mistake by stating that I had relied on other sources because I should have been much more careful.

"There was no excuse for making this mistake and I owe an apology to every resident of Birmingham."

Over 1,000 people signed an online petition urging Emerson to make an ‘on-air apology’ to the people of Birmingham.

Maryam Snape, who started the petition, said: "The fact of the matter is the American people saw this story and they are still going to believe it is the truth until he puts it right."

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