Category Archives: UK

Far-right activists admit Gloucester mosque arson

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Masjid-E-Noor arson

Two men have admitted an arson attack on a Gloucester mosque. Clive Michael Ceronne, 37, and Ashley Henry Juggins, 20, both pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

The pair attempted to set fire to the Masjid-E-Noor in the city’s Ryecroft Street on June 18 this year. Ceronne, a former security guard of Redwood Close, in Gloucester and Juggins, of Brooklyn Road in Cheltenham will be sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court on November 18.

The court previously heard the pair had bought lager, vodka and a petrol can of fuel from a London Road garage before using the fuel to set fire to the place of worship by owned by the Muslim Welfare Association. A passer-by saw the fire and helped put it out, before severe damage was caused. The attack came in the wake of the death of Drummer Lee Rigby.

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Muslim community leader’s car vandalised and racist note left claiming to come from EDL/BNP

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Muhammed Abu Sayed AnsareyA spate of racist vandalism has hit Brentford in recent weeks sparking local condemnation. The crimes started when a shocked father found his number plate defaced and a racist note on his car claiming to come from the English Defence League.

Muhammed Abu Sayed Ansarey went to his Honda Civic in the public car park in Coates Walk, Brentford, on September 28 to find a note under his windscreen wiper telling him to “park in your own car park at the top or else”, accompanied by racist swearing and signed off supposedly from the English Defence League (EDL) and British National Party (BNP). His car number plate also had permanent marker pen on it joining up letters and numbers to form different ones.

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Nazi-obsessed teen had ‘shopping list of ingredients for a bomb’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A Nazi-obsessed teenager drew up a shopping list of bomb ingredients and wrote out a detailed plan for his Columbine-style school massacre, the Old Bailey heard today (Thurs).

The 16-year-old college student planned to shoot dead teachers and unarmed police before taking hostages in the deadly attack, it is said. He allegedly wrote a plan to kill students with explosives and chain the exits shut, ending his note with the words “good luck” and a smiley face.

The teenager, now 17 who cannot be named because of his age, is accused of plotting terrorist attacks on his former school in Loughborough, Leicestershire, as well as his college, the council offices, Loughborough university, and even the local Reel cinema.

He had been stockpiling knives, air guns, petrol and pipe bombs, and explosives in his bedroom in preparation for the attack prior to his arrest in February, the court heard.

Prosecutor Gareth Patterson today showed jurors the teen’s handwritten notes on “Operation New Columbine” from a Che Guevara book daubed with EDL and Nazi slogans.

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EDL supporters in court over South Shields protest

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Hollie Smallwood EDL

A woman is to stand trial over claims that she tried to headbutt a police officer after a protest by far-right groups in South Tyneside.

About 350 members of the English Defence League (EDL) and the North East Infidels (NEI) took part in a march through South Shields on August 31. The two groups – who claimed they were there to “protest against radical Islam’s encroachment into the lives of non-Muslims” – were met at Pier Parade by about 100 counter-protesters from South Tyneside Unites Against Fascism.

A number of people were arrested before, during and after the protest on suspicion of assault, breaching the peace, being drunk and disorderly, affray and disorderly conduct.

Hollie Smallwood [pictured] appeared before magistrates charged with resisting arrest and being drunk and disorderly. Kevin Smallcombe, defending Smallwood, of Manor Grange, Lanchester, County Durham, said she denies the allegations and pleaded not guilty to both charges.

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Mail backs French journalist accused of slandering CCIF

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Nous sommes la nation (2)
Poster for the “We are the nation” campaign launched by the Collectif contre l’Islamophobie en France in 2012

A French journalist is facing a criminal trial under the country’s strict press laws for remarks made during a radio debate about the influence of Islam.

Ivan Rioufol, 61, believes the way he is being treated is an example of how writers are criminalised when the state is able to control the media. He was summoned to court under strict press laws which date back to the 19th Century following a complaint from a pressure group called the Collective Against Islamophobia in France (CCIF).

“In seeking to undermine liberty of expression, a sacred principle of our civilisation, the Collective against Islamophobia in France (CCIF) takes the risk of appearing like a menace to democracy,” said Mr Rioufol. “This is essentially what I hope to be able to explain in court, because I will have to appear in a few months before the 17th Criminal Court in Paris.”

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Teenager accused of plotting Columbine-style massacre ‘glorified’ EDL leader Stephen Lennon and ‘wanted Hitler in power’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A teenage neo-Nazi accused of plotting a “new Columbine” school massacre idolised EDL founder Tommy Robinson and wanted Hitler in power, the Old Bailey heard today (Weds).

The 16-year-old college student dreamed of the British National Party ruling the UK and told school pals he wished he was German, jurors were told. He stockpiled petrol and pipe bombs and weaponry in his bedroom where he had hung a Nazi Swastika flag over his bed and kept a copy of Mein Kampf in among books on bomb making.

The teenager is standing trial accused of plotting a massacre at his former school in Loughborough, Leicestershire, even drawing up a hit-list of staff and students he wanted to shoot.

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Church cancels plan to host Worcester Park Islamic community centre consultation due to ‘anxiety’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

St Mary's ChurchA church will no longer hold a planned meeting for an Islamic community centre on their premises after it caused a “fair degree of anxiety”.

Reverend Andy Cain of St Mary’s Church in Cuddington said earlier this year he wanted to be “accessible to all faiths and none”. The church was due to hold meetings for a public consultation on plans to turn the abandoned Worcester Park Tavern into an Islamic community centre. However the meetings will now be held in the former pub itself.

Rev Andy Cain said: “St Mary’s Church is keen to support the local community. However, it’s clear from the people that have contacted me that this consultation has caused a fair degree of anxiety and as our primary concern is serving the local community we’ve decided not to host the meeting. If this is something that can have a negative impact on the community it’s not worth us getting involved.”

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Two bearded pupils in Accrington sent home from school

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High SchoolTwo teenage boys have been sent home from school after refusing to shave off their beards.

The 14-year-old Muslims are pupils at Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School in Accrington. Lancashire County Council said the boys had been sent home but could return to school once they had shaved their beards off.

The boys have refused to shave, saying they believed it was part of their faith to keep the growth. According to Muslim tradition, Prophets including Muhammad, Jesus and Moses were all bearded. Some Muslims feel it is a blessing to adopt those facial characteristics.

Last week they were placed in “isolation” because they had failed to comply with rules about appearance. The school said the boys must be clean shaven and that pupils and parents were made aware of this before they started the school.

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