whipcracker
01-17-2004, 12:38 PM
Far-right group issues threat to MPs
Matthew Taylor
Saturday January 17, 2004
The Guardian
A rightwing splinter group calling itself the Aryan Martyrs' Brigade has
launched a hate campaign against black, Asian and Jewish MPs.
The organisation, which is believed to be linked to the extreme-right
website Redwatch, has sent letters to a number of MPs threatening them and
their families.
Yesterday, Scotland Yard confirmed it had launched an investigation, and
said that the threats were being taken seriously.
"We can confirm that in November a number of members of parliament received
malicious communications," a spokeswoman said. "Police currently
investigating the incident are treating them seriously, and have sent the
A4 leaflets off for forensic examination."
The police confirmed the letters were "offensive and racist".
The Bradford West MP, Marsha Singh, was one of those targeted. "I am
concerned but not panicking," he told the Bradford Telegraph and Argus
newspaper.
"The letter said something like 'leave the BNP alone,'" Mr Singh told the
Guardian. "They threatened to kill me and my family. MPs do get unpleasant
mail, but this was something different. I've not had any comeback yet, but
these people did seem more serious."
Last year, the Aryan Martyrs' Brigade sent a letter to the Liverpool Echo
threatening to bomb the newspaper's offices if it continued to run
"anti-British National Party" stories. A journalist from Wales on Sunday
also received threats after writing an article about the far right.
Yesterday Gregory Roylance, the chief superintendent at the Houses of
Parliament, who is in charge of security at Westminster, said: "There have
been a number of letters - into double figures - that have gone to Jewish
as well as black, Asian and some white members of Parliament."
The Aryan Martyrs' Brigade is believed to be a cover name. Searchlight, the
anti-racist organisation, said: "The group does not really exist in its own
right. Its name is just a cover for Redwatch and other rightwing thugs who
are setting out to silence their critics in the media and now parliament."
Last month the Guardian revealed the Redwatch website was being used to
plan a campaign of violence and intimidation against opponents of the BNP
and other far-right groups.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/farright/story/0,11981,1125242,00.html (http://64.4.14.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=3c4181129853502879f17eb822a4dd2b&lat=1074353747&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2eguardian%2eco%2euk%2ffarright%2fstory%2f0%2c11981%2c1125242%2c00%2ehtml)
Matthew Taylor
Saturday January 17, 2004
The Guardian
A rightwing splinter group calling itself the Aryan Martyrs' Brigade has
launched a hate campaign against black, Asian and Jewish MPs.
The organisation, which is believed to be linked to the extreme-right
website Redwatch, has sent letters to a number of MPs threatening them and
their families.
Yesterday, Scotland Yard confirmed it had launched an investigation, and
said that the threats were being taken seriously.
"We can confirm that in November a number of members of parliament received
malicious communications," a spokeswoman said. "Police currently
investigating the incident are treating them seriously, and have sent the
A4 leaflets off for forensic examination."
The police confirmed the letters were "offensive and racist".
The Bradford West MP, Marsha Singh, was one of those targeted. "I am
concerned but not panicking," he told the Bradford Telegraph and Argus
newspaper.
"The letter said something like 'leave the BNP alone,'" Mr Singh told the
Guardian. "They threatened to kill me and my family. MPs do get unpleasant
mail, but this was something different. I've not had any comeback yet, but
these people did seem more serious."
Last year, the Aryan Martyrs' Brigade sent a letter to the Liverpool Echo
threatening to bomb the newspaper's offices if it continued to run
"anti-British National Party" stories. A journalist from Wales on Sunday
also received threats after writing an article about the far right.
Yesterday Gregory Roylance, the chief superintendent at the Houses of
Parliament, who is in charge of security at Westminster, said: "There have
been a number of letters - into double figures - that have gone to Jewish
as well as black, Asian and some white members of Parliament."
The Aryan Martyrs' Brigade is believed to be a cover name. Searchlight, the
anti-racist organisation, said: "The group does not really exist in its own
right. Its name is just a cover for Redwatch and other rightwing thugs who
are setting out to silence their critics in the media and now parliament."
Last month the Guardian revealed the Redwatch website was being used to
plan a campaign of violence and intimidation against opponents of the BNP
and other far-right groups.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/farright/story/0,11981,1125242,00.html (http://64.4.14.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=3c4181129853502879f17eb822a4dd2b&lat=1074353747&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2eguardian%2eco%2euk%2ffarright%2fstory%2f0%2c11981%2c1125242%2c00%2ehtml)