British nationalists threaten to launch acid attacks on Bradford’s Muslims
Muslims in the north England city of Bradford have been targeted by poison-pen letters threatening them with acid attacks.
At least two residents of Hanover Square, a predominantly Muslim area of the West Yorkshire metropolitan district, received threatening communications in the past week.
The letters, which were apparently sent by a far-right nationalist group, feature England’s national flag, the cross of St George, with a sword and the words, “Kill scum Muslims”. They go on to claim that the unnamed people behind the letters “are now going to do acid attacks on anyone who wears the funny black masks” – apparently a reference to burqas – “around your square and Bradford and other places”.
The letter claims that “three of ur male pigs” had been grooming white girls in the inner-city area, threatening: “We know who the three male pigs are they are walking dead pigs.”
West Yorkshire Police are treating the letters “extremely seriously” and deployed extra officers over the bank holiday weekend in Manningham, the area around Hanover Square.
A police spokeswoman said: “A thorough investigation has been launched, and officers are working with the local community and partners to identify and prosecute those responsible for this despicable crime.
“We understand the impact hate crime can have on our communities. Crimes of this nature will not be tolerated.”
The far-right English Defence League is planning a march on Saturday to coincide with the beginning of Eid Al Adha, and tensions are rising in the city.
One of those who received the letter, Mohammed Qayd, told The Guardian: “I was shocked. My mum wears a burqa and she goes to town regularly, so I was concerned for her.
“When I explained it to her she realised the severity of it and was afraid.”
There has been an upsurge of hate crime directed at Muslims in the wake of terrorist attacks in London and Manchester that were claimed by ISIL.
Another local factor at play was the conviction this month of 17 men and a woman in Newcastle for their role in a sex abuse ring in which more than 100 adolescent girls and young women were exploited over a four-year period up to 2014.
The male perpetrators were from Bangladesh, India, Iran, Iraq and Pakistan, and injudicious comments by politicians and journalists led to widespread resentment of Muslim communities – stoked by the EDL and other such groupings.
British police forces reported big increases in the number of acid attacks in recent months, where corrosive substances are thrown into victims’ faces.