Lynch mob justice

“We are witnessing a new level of media hype surrounding the ‘terror plot’ bust which has already branded suspects as guilty. Black and Muslim communities are used to the rights of terror suspects being trampled over. Just look at Belmarsh.

“Increasingly anti-terror raids are accompanied by a barrage of sensational stories which risk undermining the right to a fair trial. Today’s operation has taken this trend to a new level. Journalists have already been tipped off about the streets in which the arrests have been made – leading to the inevitably intrusion into family lives. Whether innocent or guilty these families will find their business spread over the papers, becoming public enemy number one.

“This is not the way to run a system of justice. It is the justice of a lynch mob.”

BLINK editorial, 10 August 2006