'Race hate terror suspects on trial'

Wednesday, 01 July 2009 16:48

The Socialist Worker carries a story on recent court cases involving hate crimes targetting non White Britons and shows just how far right wing extremists are prepared to go to advance their rabidly racist agenda.

‘Four recent court cases in different parts of Britain shed some light on what methods those who advocate an all-white Britain would use to achieve their ends.

‘Self-proclaimed “proud racist” Neil MacGregor of Melbourne, Derbyshire, last week had his sentence deferred for the seventh time.

‘MacGregor had previously pleaded guilty to threatening to blow up Glasgow central mosque. He had said he would “execute a Muslim a day” until all Scottish mosques were closed down.

‘Meanwhile two men who skipped bail and fled to the US 11 months ago after being convicted of publishing racially inflammatory material appeared at Leeds Crown Court on 17 June.

‘Simon Sheppard of Selby and Stephen Whittle of Preston had printed leaflets that denied the Holocaust and claimed that Auschwitz was a free “holiday camp” for Jews.

'They then delivered them to synagogues. The two men were remanded in custody until sentencing next month.

‘Two weeks ago, suspected white supremacist Ian Davidson of Burnopfield, County Durham, appeared by video-link at the Old Bailey to face four charges over possession of the nerve poison ricin.

'Davidson was charged under the Chemical Weapons Act for possessing ricin when arrested. The charge alleged he was preparing for acts of terrorism.

‘And the Old Bailey heard this week that Neil Lewington of Tilehurst, Berkshire, was found in public with “bomb parts”.

‘A search of his home found a notebook he had titled “The Waffen SS UK Members’ Handbook”, with sketches of chemical mixtures.

‘The court was told that Lewington had “extreme” views on race and an “unhealthy interest” in people like London nailbomber David Copeland and Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh.

'He was, “on the cusp of embarking on a campaign of terrorism against those he considered non-British”, prosecutors added.

‘The four cases are all unrelated – but they all show where the ideology of far right groups like the BNP can lead.’

For mosques and Islamic centres that have recently been targeted by suspected far-right activists, the consequences of the increase in support for far-right parties is becoming increasingly clear.

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