The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
‘Paedophile hunters’ get police escort out of town
Residents tell of ‘absolute chaos’, but some approve of vigilante group
A self-proclaimed “paedophile hunting” vigilante group who stormed a quiet Angus street have vowed to return to the town despite being warned off by police.
Members of Wolf Pack Hunters UK descended on a flat in Forfar on Wednesday evening after setting up an online “sting”.
Police officers remained at a property on the street yesterday morning.
The group posted film footage on a Facebook page as they left the town under police escort, slating the attitude of residents who criticised their tactics.
They also described the reaction of some who objected to their presence as reminiscent of a scene from the American horror film The Hills Have Eyes.
As Police Scotland continued to investigate the full circumstances of the disturbance, the force confirmed a 27-year-old man was arrested at the scene in connection with communications offences not directly linked to the incident.
A spokesman said: “Inquiries are being made with local residents as to the behaviour and actions of persons present.”
He added that claims by the Wolf Pack Hunters that knives were presented had been investigated and found to be unsubstantiated and the group had been strongly advised not to return to the area.
Chaos broke out in the street shortly before 8pm when the group, many with their faces covered, demanded a resident come out of his home.
One resident slammed members of the group’s violent actions. He said: “Some of them were hurling bricks and stones at the windows. One brick just missed one of my neighbours.
“It was completely unacceptable behaviour. Some of them were running about the street, getting bricks, throwing them at windows and threatening to petrol bomb the houses.
“One was running about with a broken bottle as a weapon.
“They were also shouting at the police and challenging them to fight. It was absolute chaos.”
The Wolf Pack Hunters UK describes itself as a “community response to the epidemic of grooming in the UK”.
As members were leaving Forfar on Wednesday, they vowed to return.
In an online statement, a spokesman for the group said: “My team will not be threatened into not exposing these monsters. My team will continue to put ourselves in any situation that’s needs be to ensure sexual predators are jailed and exposed.”
And, speaking on the video posted on its Facebook page, one member said it was the second time they had been “chased out” of town. He said: “We are getting a police escort out of Forfar, they are wanting us out because they don’t want any more trouble. There is loads of paedo sympathisers in Forfar. It is absolutely ridiculous.
“I think Forfar might be in line for a wee protest. I think we’ll be bringing all the teams up here. The Hills Have Eyes is what Forfar is.”
The incident was the talking point at the gates of Langlands Primary School yesterday morning, with a number of mothers supporting the group’s action. One said: “I think it is good, what they do. As a parent, we have got to be aware of what is going on to protect our children and to be wary of who they are in contact with.”
Another, who lives two streets away, said she could hear shouting from her home shortly after 8pm.
She said: “I thought it was ludicrous that the police escorted them out of town.”
However, one parent issued a word of caution.
The father said: “I am deeply uncomfortable with the prospect of gangs of unknown elements being bussed into a small towns like Forfar with their own agenda.
“The police should be left to do their job.”
“It was completely unaccept– able... Some of them were running about the street, getting bricks, throwing them at windows and threatening to petrol bomb the houses