BNP supporters were demonstrating outside a police station after its members were arrested for stirring up racial hatred.

Four men were held this morning after a police investigation over the distribution of leaflets in Burnley, Lancashire, branding Muslims responsible for the heroin trade. Nick Griffin, leader of the far-right party, visited the town, to protest outside Burnley Police station at the “persecution” of its members arrested after “Gestapo-like dawn raids” by police.

Each of the leaflets features a harrowing photo of Rachel Whitear, 21, who was found dead at her flat in Exmouth, Devon, in May 2000, holding a syringe. The photo of Rachel made national headlines after her parents agreed for it to be released to warn other youngsters of the dangers of drugs. Rachel’s mother, Pauline Holcroft, 58, of Ledbury, Herefordshire, later said the leaflets were “insulting and offensive”.

The leaflet was distributed to homes in Burnley and is also reportedly circulating in other parts of Lancashire, Cumbria and Yorkshire. It says people should “heap condemnation” on Muslims and that it is time for them to “apologise” as it claims they are responsible for 95% of the world’s heroin trade.

The leaflets, which first appeared around March, were first distributed by a former BNP candidate, according to the party’s website.

Manchester Evening News, 19 November 2008

Update:  See also BNP report “BNP Men Questioned ‘After Pressure from Muslim Police Association‘”.