Police make arrest in England over ‘Punish a Muslim’ hate mail

Police in England have arrested a man over hate mail sent under the banner of “Punish a Muslim Day”, they said yesterday.

At least 20 anonymous hate letters were sent this year encouraging Britons to punish a Muslim on April 3, trying to incite murder or arson attacks on mosques.

Letters were sent last month with further threats and five British MPs with South Asian backgrounds also received Islamophobic hate mail, along with packages containing a harmless sticky liquid.

The man, 35, was arrested in Lincolnshire, east England, on suspicion of sending a hoax noxious substance, sending threatening letters and conspiracy to commit murder, police said. They were searching an office and home in the county.

The campaign triggered fear across UK cities and sparked a police counter-terrorism investigation. In the end, April 3 passed without any specific violence towards Muslims.

“We understand that people may be concerned,” a police spokesman said. “However, we would like to reassure communities that this activity is a result of an ongoing, intelligence-led investigation and was not in response to an immediate threat.”

At least 20 anonymous hate letters were sent this year inciting Britons to Islamophobic violence on April 3