Anti-Islamic protesters target ABC offices

Staff at Melbourne's ABC office have been told not to use the front door so they can avoid anti-Islam protesters outside.

Zaky Mallah appears in ABC TV's Q&A audience. (AAP) Source: ABC Australia

ABC staff in Melbourne have been told not to leave the office through the front door to avoid anti-Islam protesters rallying outside.

Members of the United Patriots Front are gathering outside the ABC's Southbank office in protest against the appearance of terror suspect Zaky Mallah on television show Q&A this week.

It is believed a small number of demonstrators are waving Australian flags and are cooking a pig on a spit.

ABC journalist Loretta Florance tweeted that staff were told not to approach the ABC building's front door.

The ABC has been heavily criticised since Mallah's appearance on the show.

Mallah was the first Victorian charged with terror offences and admitted to threatening to kill Australian security officials, but was acquitted of the charges.

The United Patriots Front describes its membership on its Facebook page as a "nation wide movement, opposing the spread of Left Wing treason and spread of Islamism".