Son of van hire boss held for ‘race hate’ tweet
THE son of the owner of the van used in the Finsbury Park terror attack has been arrested on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred.
Richard Evans, whose father runs the Pontyclun Van Hire company based in south Wales, was detained after allegedly posting comments on social media celebrating the attack.
South Wales Police confirmed they had detained a 37-year-old man after a tweet was posted stating: “Shame they don’t hire out steam rollers or tanks could have done a tidy job then.”
Other comments that appeared on Facebook and Twitter under the same account included: “It’s a shame that van was a nice drive as well” and “Glad I’m not running the van hire the police wouldn’t like what my answer would be”.
A police spokesman said: “A 37-yearold man has been arrested on suspicion of displaying threatening, abusive or insulting written material with intent likely to stir up racial hatred. He is currently in police custody.”
Len Evans, the father of Richard Evans, runs Pontyclun Van Hire in the Rhondda Valley, south Wales, with four brothers.
He said: “I want to condemn in the strongest possible terms these ill-considered Twitter comments, which in no way reflect my own view or indeed those of anyone else in the family.
“The attack in Finsbury Park was shocking and cowardly. Together with all the staff at Pontyclun Van Hire, I am doing everything I can to assist the Metropolitan Police in their inquiries.”
Paul Evans, a co-director, said staff and directors were “horrified” by what his nephew had written. “I’d like to make it clear that my nephew Richard is not involved in any way in this company, and all of us here were horrified by his despicable comments,” he said.
Richard Evans is understood to work as a driver for haulage company Eddie Stobart. A spokesman said: “We can confirm that we are aware of the reprehensible remarks made by Richard Gear Evans on social media. These remarks in no way reflect the view of Eddie Stobart Logistics and we have taken immediate action.”
Markran Ali, 52, who had collapsed and was receiving first aid when he was struck by the van, was pronounced dead at the scene. It remains unclear whether he died as a result of the impact.
Meanwhile, nine people injured in the attack remained in hospital, but police said none was critical.