Police probe neo-Nazi threat to Muslim MSP
Sarwar sent sinister email by extremists saying: ‘We’re everywhere’
A MUSLIM MSP was forced to call the police after receiving a threatening white supremacist email – containing the chilling message: ‘We are everywhere.’
Footage from a far-Right terror group’s rally was sent to Anas Sarwar. The message to the former Scots Labour leadership candidate also read: ‘No step back.’
A video attached featured the proscribed fascist terror group National Action, marching in Darlington, and a hate-filled speech by one of its leaders.
The video was taken down by YouTube but was still available via Twitter last week.
The ‘Phoenix Party’ Twitter account, which posted the link, was suspended late on Friday, after the company was alerted by the Scottish Mail on Sunday.
It comes after Tory MSP Annie Wells and Lib Dem Alex Cole-Hamilton revealed they have received police support in response to social media threats.
Mr Sarwar, a Glasgow MSP, contacted the police and a man has been arrested and appeared in court.
Last night, Mr Sarwar said: ‘This video is just one example of the issues with unrestricted social media, and it demonstrates that we are not immune from farRight extremism in Scotland or the UK.
‘Platforms are being used to spread and amplify hateful views and – on occasion – glorify hate speech or violent hate incidents.
‘Individual social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have a responsibility about what they are allowing to appear on their sites.
‘In particular, companies must do more to combat racist comments that can be viewed by children on their sites. Social media can be a force for good in our world and if we are to build more tolerant, hatefree societies, then social media plays a crucial role in that. ‘That’s why I have written to Facebook and Twitter with the intention of holding a summit this year to work towards that goal.’ Mr Sarwar wrote following the murder of 50 people in Christchurch, New Zealand, at Al Noor Mosque, on March 15. The Australian gunman livescreened the shocking rampage on Facebook. In response, Facebook has banned all white nationalist propaganda from the website and Instagram, with anyone searching for such material being directed to a charity combating farRight hate crime.
However, less than a week after the New Zealand terrorist atrocity, a tweet with a link to the Darlington march was posted on Twitter.
The clip – lasting four minutes and 24 seconds – shows men in black clothing and dark glasses marching around the town, giving Nazi salutes, while a leader spouts hatred via a loudspeaker.
In a shocking rant, he urges people to rise up against ‘vile aliens’, in a clear attempt to incite violence and hatred against immigrants and ethnic minorities.
The man says: ‘The battle has come to us. It rages in our towns, our cities and on our very own doorsteps. We must fight.’ He claims that action is needed so a future generation ‘does not wake up as a despised and persecuted minority in the land which is their birthright, and is soaked in the blood of their ancestors, pushed out to make way for those who were encouraged to come here, seeking entitlement’.
He claims anyone who does not join his fascist movement will be branded a ‘traitor to your nation, your race, and your own children’.
The man adds: ‘This used to be a white country. White men. White women. White children. White culture. White values.’ He also makes an anti-Semitic reference to ‘the hooked-nose banker’, while attacking politicians and celebrities. He adds: ‘The entire upper class looks down on the British people in disgust and contempt.’
The video clip ends by showing Nazi salutes.
A Twitter spokesman said: ‘Our hateful conduct policy prohibits the promotion of violence against – or threats of attack towards – people on the basis of certain categories such as race and ethnic origin.
‘We also have a policy on violent extremist groups that allows us to take action on groups that threaten real-world violence. We take strong enforcement action when behaviour violates our rules.’
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service confirmed a man had been arrested and appeared in court in relation to the video, and is expected to stand trial this year.
‘Social media used to spread hateful views’