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A young dad was slashed across the face in front of his five-year-old son. Reece Johnson, 23, was surrounded by a gang of 20 Asian youths as he walked with his girlfriend and young son Tyrel near to the entrance of Bobby Heywood Park in Great Lever, Bolton.
VETERANS who have risked their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan are among 5,300 British soldiers to be given their marching orders.
The head of the English Defence League has insisted that he is not a Nazi and that his movement is backed by serving British soldiers.
A disgusted father has told how a group of young air cadets were racially abused by a gang who waited outside Preston’s Territorial Army barracks. Police were called on Tuesday night after one cadet was allegedly chased towards Preston north End’s stadium from Kimberley Barracks on Deepdale Road, following a training session. On Tuesdays the barracks is used by the 341 Air Squadron, but it is also understood a group of army cadets may have been verbally abused on the same evening. Today, Det Chf Insp Ian Dawson of Preston Police said there were no security concerns at the barracks and said it was a minor incident. He said: “ we are aware of a minor incident at the barracks and believe it was isolated. We have close links with the barracks and are working,through our diversity team, to establish who the youths involved are. “Preston has a diverse community and we are not aware of any problems. “We are working closely with community leaders. He added: “We understand the cadets had played football on the park before returning to the barracks. A short time later, as they left the barracks, they were shouted at by a group. “We have assessed our reassurance response to the incident. A concerned parent, who did not wish to be named, said: “ A group of Asian youths were outside the barracks and were abusing the cadets as they came out. “One ran back inside and had to get a sergeant’s help. “Members of the TA who are stationed at the barracks also came out. “My stepdaughter is in the air cadets and we worry about her walking home as it is. “The youngsters were advised not to walk home alone. “My stepdaughter had been shouted at once before as she left the barracks. It does not put us off sending her, but it frightens me.” Coun Terry Cartwright, who represents the area, said: “ It is disturbing, particularly in the wake of what happened at Woolwich Barracks in London. These young cadets are trying to make something of themselves.” Preston community worker Ali Amla, MBE, said: “ It is totally unacceptable behaviour for these young people to have been treated like that. “The cadets are there to volunteer their time very positively and do something very positive in the community.” A spokesman for Fulwood Barracks confirmed the air cadets had been training in the barracks at the time. An Air Cadet spokesman was not available for comment.
The French media has been running headlines claiming “Neo-Nazi skinheads beat homosexual activist to death in Paris.” The deceased is Clement Meric, an 18 year old homosexual who is part of Anti-Fascist Action or Antifa. In the United States, this group is more commonly known as ARA. Antifa’s name and logo come from the paramilitary wing of the pre-WWII German Communist Party. The incident took place at an event at a high end clothing store in Paris. The store was having a liquidation sale on Fred Perry shirts. This is a high end British clothing company that makes tennis apparel. Fred Perry clothing were part of the fashion of the British “skinhead” counter-culture scene of the 60′s and 70′s. Some members of Antifa gang call themselves “skinheads” today and even have patched “skinhead” gangs within the loose Antifa gang network. Several members of the Antifa gang spotted three guys they claim are members of a far-right group. They began calling fellow gang members and urging them to come to the store. According to some reports, Meric was among those who received a phone call and rushed to the scene. As the three victims were leaving the department store, they were attacked by a larger group of Antifa members. Police say Meric was only punched twice, but he received a fatal wound to his head when he fell. The man who punched Meric is an immigrant from Spain. Police initially charged Spanish tourist Esteban Morillo with murder. A judge promptly dismissed this charge, crushing media attempt to paint Meric’s death as a premeditated attack. Morillo is still being held on charges of culpable homicide. Marxist and homosexual groups have been holding demonstrations in Paris to depict Meric as a martyr. The reality is that a violent left-wing gang simply didn’t want another group of people to buy the same tennis apparel that they liked.
Today, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson made a speech about investment in the future of London. He pointed to the ‘demographic explosion’ now occurring and the resulting huge shortage of both homes and school places but he made no reference to the impact of immigration. He seemed to regard the population increase as entirely welcome, something that many Londoner’s would question. A few weeks back, in the Evening Standard, he referred to the capital’s population rise but said it was not “principally a function of immigration, as it happens, but of the simple rate of live births against deaths.” This is absolutely false. Between 2001 and 2011, the UK-born population in London actually declined by about 50,000, while theforeign born population of London increased by over one million. The entire growth of the London population over that decade can be accounted for the by increase in the number of residents born outside the UK. In addition, only one third of children born in London in 2011 were to parents who were both British born, while 44% were to parents who were both foreign born (the other 23% had one foreign born parent).
Of course, London is a global city and migrants are bound to be a part of its growth. But it is not a case of unlimited immigration or none at all, the scale and pace of immigration are the keys as to whether the city’s expansion can be managed successfully
The Mayor’s attitude seems to that the city just has to cope with whoever turns up. That is clearly absurd when the city’s housing transport and education services are already struggling and when the public are very strongly opposed to the mass immigration that was allowed to occur under Labour. The government has a very sensible policy of bringing net migration down from more than a quarter of a million a year to the tens of thousands. It would be nice to hear some common sense from the Mayor on this issue and some recognition for the strength of public concern about massive levels of immigration.
Instead, the Mayor brushes all this aside and proposes to deal with mass migration by simply building more schools and houses, putting more buses on the roads, extending the Tube and training more teachers (who's going to pay for all this?). This is completely inadequate for the head of the world's greatest city.
Everyone knows Tommy Robinson! He is the brave and self-sacrificing hero behind the EDL, if you support them. Or a racist, criminal thug, if you don't. But we all know his face. We all know his recent history. And he regularly appears on TV so that left-wing commentators, and BBC presenters (often the same people) can attempt to cut him down to size. They don't always succeed. But what do we know about the UAF, the Unite Against Fascists organisation which sprang into existence in 2003 and counts on the support of all manner of celebrities and politicians, and politicians who want to be celebrities? Would you recognise any of their leaders if you passed them on the street? And what of their backgrounds and motivations? Shouldn't they come under the same searching investigation which the EDL seems to face? Do we really know who is behind the UAF? It is not unfair to say that their logo has all the charm of a soviet era poster, with what appears to be two people, one with a round head and one with a square head, punching their fists in the air. I can imagine that the roundheaded person is a reference to the republican forces of the English Commonwealth, when monarchy was overturned. But who is the character with the square head? It may well be a reference to the 70's band, Ian Dury and the Blockheads, who knows. What we do know is that the honorary president of UAF is Doreen Lawrence, the saintly mother of Stephen Lawrence. Not only is she a board member of Liberty (which probably tells us all we need to know about her views on liberty), but she actually held the Olympic flag at the Opening Ceremony with Ban Ki Moon and Shami Chakrabarti, which either tells us that she is the third most important person in the world, or that there is a very cosy clique of people gathered around the faux-concept of liberty for some. There is much public criticism of Doreen Lawrence, who appears to be invited to join any committee or organisation which sets itself the task of rooting out the violence and hatred of white people for those of other ethnicities. It is of course unfortunate that most racist violence takes place between people of BME backgrounds and does not involve white people, expect as victims. It is not unfair to say that Doreen Lawrence has made a successful career out of the loss of her son. But she is only the honorary president, and the real power behind the soviet style logo belongs to the Joint Secretaries, Weyman Bennett and Sabby Dhalu. Weyman is an interesting man. He is a member of the Central Committee of the Socialist Workers Party, and a hardline Trotskyite. As you might expect, he lives in the socialist paradise of Haringay. The recent controversy in the SWP over the allegations of sexual assault over many years made against Martin Smith, also known as Comrade Delta (no, not Citizen Smith), saw Bennett take the side of those who decided that this criminal matter should be handled by the SWP rather than the capitalist running dogs of the Metropolitan Police. Naturally the Central Committee and Bennett voted to support Comrade Delta. In 2010 Bennett was arrested at a counter-demonstation on suspicion of conspiracy to organise violent disorder. At that particular event there were 74 arrests. Only 9 were of EDL supporters, the rest were UAF members and sympathisers. At the same event Martin Smith, (aka Comrade Delta), was also arrested but later released. Clearly the Socialist Workers Party leadership were out in force. Later that year Martin Smith was arrested again, this time for assaulting a police officer. What about Sabby Dhalu? Who is he? Well he is a she! Presently she is Secretary of "One Society Many Cultures", another multi-cultural organisation on the Left. This groups main agenda seems to be to promote the meme of Islamophobia, and to trumpet the benefits of continuing unrestrained immigration. Dhalu's organisation is part of the National Assembly Against Racism (didn't you know there was one?), and is part funded at least by UNISON’s General Political Fund. What is the agenda of the NAAR? Well their website says.. Now more than ever the anti-racist movement, with the black and Asian communities, trade unions and other progressive organisations, must assert the enormous contribution that Britain’s diverse communities have made to the wealth and dynamism of this society. I think we all know what the word 'progressive' means. Hardcore socialism. And here we find anti-racism helpfully described. It doesn't mean not treating members of other ethnicities badly. It doesn't mean not encouraging violence against members of other ethnicities. It certainly doesn't mean asking what the experience of white people in our large cities is like, and if they experience racism. It means the socialist, 'progressive' agenda, multi-culturalism and continuing immigration. It's well worth following the links from website to website. On the NAAR site, the sponsors of Sabby Dhalu's group, we also see reference to their "charitable partner organisation the Respect Trust". There's a website for this Trust, although it appears to have been removed from the register of Charities this year. This website also describes its activities.. Respect Trust works in partnership and solidarity with people affected by racism, Black community groups, anti-racist organisations, students, trade unionists and all anti-racists to bring the widest support for initiatives to challenge racism and promote the values of multiculturalism. Again we see the false dichotomy between racism and multi-culturalism, as if to oppose multi-culturalism is to be a racist, which is exactly how we are being encouraged to think. Before we review what we know about the leadership of the UAF, let's turn for a moment to a report of their conference in 2012. In this friendly and positive description we find perhaps the best possible description of the manner in which UAF operates. Firstly we discover that it is funded to a great extent by the union movement. The NUT alone apparently gave UAF £55,000 in 2012. It would also seem that One Society Many Cultures, and the NAAR were receiving funds from UNITE. We should remember that Christine Blower, General Secretary of the NUT, has been a member of the London Socialist Alliance, a group of far-Left political groups, and describes herself to the left of Old Labour. While Len McClusky, General Secretary of UNITE, is of course a communist of the old school, not the Common Purpose variety. So we can see pretty clearly that much of the funding behind UAF comes from extreme left-wing trade unionism. The same conference report describes that there was a maximum attendance of about 350 people. That's not necessarily bad for a political organisation of this nature. But what is more enlightening is that our reporter estimated that 20 were members of Socialist Action, and 100 were members of the SWP. So out of a maximum attendance at the UAF conference of 350 people, about 35% could be immediately identified as members of extremist left-wing organisations. The report goes on to describe the lack of democracy within the UAF, and that since its founding in 2003 there had been no elections to the National Committee until 2012. And at this conference it seems to have been arranged that for each position being subject to election there was only one candidate! Here is the description of one such electoral incident involving Comrade Delta, who holds significant power in the UAF organisation.. Lo and behold, there was only one candidate for each position. (Many of them were nominated by “Love Music Hate Racism” and “One Society Many Cultures” – “organisations” which decide these things how, exactly?) However this was only achieved by excluding Justin Baidoo, a young socialist and trade unionist from South London wishing to challenge SWP full-timer Martin Smith for assistant secretary, on a technicality. The chair of his union branch had sent in the nomination, but failed to send in the reaffiliation form. The UAF is clearly an extremist left-wing body. It's leaders are all members and associates of extremist socialism, and it receives much of its funding from extremist socialist union leaders. But it still manages to support what this interesting report calls 'the alliance with right-wing political Islam'. And at this conference Azad Ali was appointed UAF vice chair. He is a member of the Islamic Forum of Europe. At a conference in 2010 he defended Hamas and Hezbollah, and found himself in trouble when he posted an incitement to violence against British troops on his website in the form of a quotation.. If I saw an American or British man wearing a soldier’s uniform inside Iraq I would kill him because that is my obligation. He later tried to sue the Daily Mail, but the Judge in the case said.. Mr Ali ‘was indeed . . . taking the position that the killing of American and British troops in Iraq would be justified’. Even a moderate Muslim leader in the UK, wondered why Ali had been given a platform, and why Labour Ministers were ingratiating themselves with him. Haras Rafiq, a moderate Muslim and director of counter-terrorism think-tank Centri, said: ‘It is crazy that we have Secretaries of State at the same event as someone who is praising Hamas. It gives people who support terrorist organisations credibility and legitimacy.’ What else do we know about Ali? Well he doesn't like democracy much. Here is what he says about it, compared to sharia law.. Democracy, if it means that, you know, at the expense of not implementing the sharia, of course no one agrees with that. And he used to attend lectures given by Abu Qatada. He wants Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, to be Caliph of a restored Caliphate. He says of the Al-Qaeda recruiter, Anwar Al-Awlaki, I really do love him for the sake of Allah, he has an uncanny way of explaining things to people which is endearing. And when some of his extremist views were exposed on a Channel 4 documentary he threatened the journalist responsible with the words... We've got a picture of you and a lot more than you thought we had. We've tracked you down to different places. And if people are gonna turn what I've just said into a threat, that's their fault, innit? If we can excuse bringing Patrick Mercer, MP (just) into this thread, then it might be worth remembering what he said at the time.. Patrick Mercer, a Conservative MP and counterterrorism expert, said: "It beats me why the police should want to take the advice of this man. They should have nothing to do with him. I know for a fact that there are just as knowledgeable members of the Muslim community who do not share his subversive views." So what do we have? Two extremist socialists are running the UAF, with the rest of the organisation populated by other SWP supporters and members. The vice-chair is a noted supporter of Islamic terrorist organisations. How is it possible that this dangerous organisation has gained the traction it has? It is just not possible to imagine that David Cameron and other politicians are unaware of the backgrounds and views of those directing the activities of the UAF. Therefore the association with them must be considered to be deliberate. That raises lots of questions about what Cameron and others hope to get out of their support for this far-left organisation. Is David Cameron aware that Weyman Bennett has declared that Cameron is a racist and should be sacked as prime minister? What is surely clear is that we are judged by the company we keep, and the association of Conservative politicians with these subversives, extremists and supporters of terrorism does them no good at all.
Peaceful Islam: Six sentenced for EDL attack plot
The sentencing of six men who planned a murderous attack on an English Defence League rally is due to continue. Muslim extremists were behind the plot that prosecutors claim could have sparked a "tit-for-tat spiral of violence and terror". Jewel Uddin, 27, Omar Mohammed Khan, 31, Mohammed Hasseen, 24, Anzal Hussain, 25, Mohammed Saud, 23, and Zohaib Ahmed, 22, are all due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey. They previously admitted the plot to strike at an EDL rally in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in June last year. It only failed by chance, and the six conspirators would have gone on to attack another rally by the far right group had they not been stopped, the court heard yesterday. EDL members were encouraged to travel to the court for the sentencing and on Thursday dozens gathered at a nearby pub and then in the street outside. With English flags on display, they could be heard chanting "Anjem Choudary, off our streets," referring to the radical preacher, and "EDL". Leader Tommy Robinson and his deputy Kevin Carroll briefly went into the public gallery of Court 12 to watch the beginning of the hearing. Robinson glared into the dock and appeared to smirk as he walked out of the public gallery. Two men aged 24 and 26 were arrested outside the court during the course of the day, both on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, City of London Police said. Prosecutor Bobbie Cheema QC told the court: "In the months leading up to June 30 2012 these six men, all ideologically committed to radical Islam, planned to execute a terrible vengeance on the English Defence League for what they perceived to be the EDL's recent blasphemous words and actions against the Prophet Mohammed and Islam. "Their plain and now admitted intention was to carry out a terrorist attack using a varied selection of offensive weapons: an improvised explosive device, two sawn-off shotguns, swords and knives. As well as members of the EDL and police officers on duty, ordinary shoppers and workers would have been in the town centre at the time of the rally, at the time of the planned attack."
THREE men arrested on suspicion of a string of sex-related offences after police raided Oxford's Nanford Guest House this morning have been released on bail. Police investigating alleged child sex exploitation swooped on the Iffley Road bed and breakfast at 7.50am today. Three men, aged 81, 49 and 48, were arrested on suspicion of three offences each - being a landlord letting a premise for use as a brothel, causing or inciting child prostitution for gain and encouraging / assisting in an offence believing it will be committed, namely rape and arranging child prostiution for gain. The 48-year-old and 49-year-old have tonight been released on bail until September 4. The 81-year-old has been bailed until tomorrow morning. Police also raided a property in Sunningwell Road, Sunningwell, at the same time. Sixty officers were involved in total, include some from Thames Valley Police's Operation Bullfinch team, which is targeting alleged child sex exploitation. Firefighters and environmental health officers were also at the scene of the raid. It comes after seven men were convicted of child sex offences in Oxford including trafficking and facilitating prostitution at the Old Bailey last month. The warrant was issued under section 8 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. Police said it was in relation to information that came to light during the recent Old Bailey trial where evidence was heard that the guesthouse had been used to facilitate child sexual exploitation.
A UAF "vigil" tonight has echoes of their 2009 event when Michael Adebalajo gave his now famous "kuffar" speech
Elizabeth Youle (right) collapsed while on the phone to an out-of-hours medic at Nottingham Emergency Medical Services. A staff member visited her home but left when Mrs Youle did not answer the door.
Interesting story developing in Edinburgh as the enforced diversity brainwashing of young children hits the cold hard reality of modern, multicultural Britain.
A RACE row has broken out after almost a third of the children due to take part in a school field trip to a city mosque were pulled out by their parents. Children from Newtongrange Primary visited the Central Mosque in Potterrow, but from an original group of 90 pupils, 28 were withdrawn. The trip had been organised to help educate the primary one, two and five pupils about other religions and cultures. But one parent today said they didn’t want their child “mixed up in the hate being preached in mosques”. The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the wake of the killing of soldier Lee Rigby in London, and David Cameron’s pledge to “drain the swamp” of extremism.
It is not by coincidence that I spend most of my holidays in Scotland; a truly beautiful part of the world but under threat from crazed fantasists like this:
Newtongrange Labour councillor Jim Muirhead said: “Unfortunately people equate recent incidents in Woolwich with religion when in my view such incidents are as far from religion as you can get.”
Not this particular religion, which advocates all manner of cruelty and harshness to non-believers, but thankfully someone was on hand to point this out.
However, Kenny MacDonald, Scottish regional organiser of the BNP, backed the parents. He said: “I applaud these parents in going against the wave of political correctness.”
Was it #UAF or #Islam again ? The Bomber Command Memorial has been targeted by vandals for the second time in a week. Though work is currently underway to remove the graffiti, the RAF say the cost of this is taken from the RAF Benevolent Fund. A spokesman said: "The RAF Benevolent Fund exists to provide welfare for past and present RAF personnel and their dependents who are in need; this latest attack will once again divert much needed resources away from our primary purpose."
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More than 400,000 households have told the BBC that they do not need a TV licence, according to figures which the corporation previously attempted to conceal.
BRITAIN lavishes a bigger share of national wealth on overseas aid than any other leading industrial nation, figures released at the G8 Summit showed last night.
TOWN hall visitors are unable to understand what is said at meetings as councillors speak in Bengali. Observers say the alarming trend away from English rose dramatically this year at Tower Hamlets Council, east London. And Muslim councillor Abdal Ullah claims he was subjected to abuse, but English-speaking councillors failed to realise what had happened. The Labour councillor claims he was called a “shurer batcha” – “son of a pig” – by a rival during a heated exchange last month. Peter Golds, leader of the council’s Tory group, said: “Bengali is used in a foul manner, but it is not just the odd insult hurled around in the heat of the moment, it is premeditated. “This is intimidating, violent and threatening.”
Tell MAMA, Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks, will not have its government grant renewed after police and civil servants raised concerns about its methods. Ministers end funding for body that claimed ‘wave of attacks’ against Islam (212 by last weekend). Claims the media unquestioningly repeated. 57% of which were online, 16% were not verified and only 8% were physical attacks and none required medical treatment.Other Items: • Immigration chaos 'won't ever be fixed': UK's new immigration boss can't rule out further backlog of unprocessed cases• Judges attack cuts to legal aid for migrants as they say any changes would set a bad example to the rest of the world• Businessman vs Burglars in Midnight Fight at His Premises. Now He’s on GBH Charge• British Couple Thrown in Spanish Jail and Fined £600 After Refusing to Pay for Paella They Didn’t Even Order• Students Taught About Homosexual Foreplay Disguised as Tolerance• Muslim Hate Monitor to Lose Backing• Thought for the Day – Whodatoughtit?• And finally – Now you know!
'We are going through torture': Family face losing £200,000 home in landmark ruling after grandfather's terror conviction. The family (pictured) of former Taliban fighter Munir Farooqi have spoken of their 'torture' as they face losing their home in Lonsight, Manchester, if he loses his High Court appeal.
Nick Griffin declares "life in capital normal" but his trip comes as twin suicide bombers hit Damascus, killing at least 14. The leader of the British National Party has made a surprise trip to Syria after being invited on a fact-finding mission by President Bashar al Assad. Nick Griffin's visit to Damascus came as twin suicide bombers targeted a police station in the capital, killing at least 14 people. Writing on Twitter, he said he wanted to highlight the risk that British support for opponents of Mr Assad could plunge the country into "an Iraq-style hell of sectarian hate". The far-right politician also linked the kind of Islamist militancy espoused by some of the rebels with the murder of soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich last month. Mr Griffin posted a series of comments on the microblog site as he crossed into Syria from neighbouring Lebanon. "Crossed border into Syria yesterday," he wrote. "Now in Damascus, which is busy, a modern, bustling city. Security rather like Belfast in Troubles. "Fact finding mission. Cameron & Hague plan to send UK money & weapons to rebels dominated by Islamist jihadis like killers of Lee Rigby. "Occasional explosions in distance but life in capital normal. Traffic busy, shops full of goods. Families out in sun. Why turn stable secular state into Iraq-style hell of sectarian hate? "More madness from the people who dragged us to costly war in Iraq & Afghan(istan)." He later added: "Just visited site of rebel suicide bomb this a.m. Smelt like abattoir. Vile. Hague wants you taxes to arm these terrorists!" Mr Griffin, who is an MEP for North West England, was invited to Damascus as part of a delegation of European politicians. BNP spokesman Simon Darby stressed that he was not being paid by the Syrian regime and did not want his presence in the country to be seen as an endorsement of Mr Assad. "What he wants is to let people have a proper view of what is going on in Syria, because at the moment all we have is William Hague and his infantile war-mongering," said Mr Darby. "He wants to ascertain just how many British citizens are fighting out there for the so-called Free Syrian Army and other elements opposed to Assad. "He is representing the point of view of ordinary British people who don't want any engagement in the Middle East and its troubles, any more than they wanted to fight in Afghanistan and Iraq. "He is MEP for the North West and he is sick and tired of seeing lads from Manchester and Liverpool coming back in body bags or with arms and legs missing because the Government got them involved in business that isn't any concern of ours." As the delegation visited Damascus, the Syrian army was reported to be launching multiple attacks on rebel positions in the northern province of Aleppo. Syria's civil war has now lasted 26 months and is said to have claimed more than 90,000 lives. An EU arms embargo on arming opposition forces fighting Mr Assad ended on June 1 after ministers failed to agree an extension. However, Foreign Secretary William Hague has insisted there are no immediate plans for Britain to send weapons to the rebels.
TONY Blair seems to have earnt himself a new enemy after engaging in an ugly Twitter battle with EDL leader Tommy Robinson. The very public spat came after the far-right group's leader tweeted his approval of a piece written by the former Prime Minister in which he strongly criticised Islam. Robinson, also known by his real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, boasted that Blair's article, which said there was a "problem within Islam", was correct and "confirms everything we say." The former Labour leader's representatives quickly took to Twitter to distance himself from the controversial group, posting under the username @tonyblairoffice. "@EDLTrobinson Not the case at all," Blair's office responded. "You obviously haven't read the article properly - there is nothing in common with what you have to say." "Tony Blair is in China, but was made aware of the EDL tweet and totally disagrees with what they have said," a spokesman added. Blair sparked outrage with the controversial article which warned that the brutal Woolwich attack on Drummer Lee Rigby revealed a “problem within Islam.” In a remarkable intervention, Blair said "the seeds of future fanaticism and terror" were being sown and that children in the UK and abroad must be educated about the place of religion in society. EDL leader Robinson furiously responded to the denial that the article held similarities to his group's principles. "Really how's that? We say lee rigbys death is down to Islam and its ideology tony Blair says exact same? Stop being weak and politically correct and admit it, u said government need to be brave, how about u try and be brave," he angrily wrote. In a flurry of responses, Robinson accused Blair of war crimes and fuelling divides within communities because of his foreign policy in Iraq and Afghanistan. "u invaded Islamic countries #warcriminal then when Muslims react and get hostile it's against us in towns like Luton,"[sic] Robinson said. "Whilst u jet around the world earning millions talking s***? Your kids go private school don't attempt to pretend u can understand what's it's like for working class people in Islamist strongholds," the argument concluded.
A witness says two suspects are tackled to the ground by members of the public following a "smash and grab" raid at Selfridges. Two men have been arrested following an audacious raid at Selfridges after passers-by reportedly pinned them down. The robbery happened late on Thursday evening while customers were shopping in the world-famous department store in London's Oxford Street. Armed police were sent to the scene after a gang wielding axes smashed display cabinets to get at jewellery items, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said. The two suspects were detained after coming off a moped as they apparently tried to make a getaway from the store. Matthew Carrozo, 28, from east London, said he saw two men being arrested by police shortly after the raid. He was having a drink with a friend outside The Draft House pub at the corner of Goodge Street and Charlotte Street when he heard the sound of the moped crashing. He said he then saw a man run out from a pizza restaurant and pin down one of the two people who were riding on the vehicle. "Someone noticed a bag had fallen off the moped and that it had opened and a bunch a watches fell out," he said. "The duffle bag was full of watches and jewellery." He said one man was dressed in full motorbike gear while a second man dressed in a burka had been on the back of the moped and fell on to the ground. "The first guy pegged it down Charlotte Street and then he was held to the ground as other people were getting involved. He really put up a struggle. When cops turned up they put him in the back of a van and he was kicking and screaming. The other man was injured. "Apparently it was just an accident and the moped slipped on a grate on the ground. We were totally stunned by what we saw." Witnesses to the robbery took to social media, with one person writing on Twitter: "6 guys with guns + motorcycles just ran into @Selfridges smashed the counters grabbed jewellery and rode away." Onlookers also posted photographs of the scene on Twitter, with one picture showing tiny pieces of broken glass from cabinets that were shattered over the floor. Another photograph showed two axes lying on the ground. The Metropolitan Police said: "Police were called at approximately 8.30pm to reports of a smash and grab inside commercial premises on Oxford Street. "It is not currently known how many people were involved. Two people were arrested nearby. Inquiries continue." A London Ambulance spokeswoman said it sent one ambulance and one single response unit to Oxford Street but they were redirected to Goodge Street. "While there they treated one patient, a man in his 20s for leg and pelvis injuries and he was taken to hospital as a priority," she added. The raid took place half an hour before the store was due to close at 9pm. A special beauty event was being held there, according to Selfridge's Twitter feed. A message posted on the feed read: "Hi, we just want to let you know that everyone is safe and the police are investigating. We will update you once we have more information."
(CNSNews.com) – As Saudi and U.N. health authorities report new infections from a troubling new respiratory disease, there are concerns that the approaching Hajj – the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca – could increase the risk of spreading the virus as pilgrims return to their home countries. Meanwhile the U.S. government, in a notice published in the Federal Register Wednesday, declared that the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV, or simply MERS) could potentially “affect national security or the health and security of United States citizens living abroad.” Saudi Arabia is currently the undisputed center of the scare. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the majority of the 55 confirmed MERS cases – 40 infections, 24 deaths – have occurred in the kingdom, while two deaths each have been reported in Britain and Jordan and one death each in France and the United Arab Emirates. (The fatalities in Europe were linked to visits to the Middle East.)
Infections also have been reported in Qatar, Tunisia and Italy. The notice published in the Federal Register Wednesday said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has determined that “there is a significant potential for a public health emergency that has a significant potential to affect national security or the health and security of United States citizens living abroad.” That determination in turn allows the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to bypass standard processes and fast-track approval for products or drugs in relation to MERS, on the basis of an “emergency use application” (EUA). The FDA may under the prescribed circumstances issue an EUA “authorizing (1) the emergency use of an unapproved drug, an unapproved or uncleared device, or an unlicensed biological product; or (2) an unapproved use of an approved drug, approved or cleared device, or licensed biological product,” the notice says. Saudi Arabia says more than two million Muslims – including roughly 20,000 from the United States – visit Mecca for the Hajj, which brings large numbers of people into close proximity in a confined geographical area over a five-day period. This year’s pilgrimage falls in mid-October. As of Wednesday, the U.N. World Health Organization (WHO) said it was not advising any “special screening at points of entry” as a result of the outbreak, “nor does it currently recommend the application of any travel or trade restrictions.” Updated guidelines for Hajj pilgrims, issued by the Saudi Embassy in Washington, make no mention of MERS in a section on health issues and vaccination requirements. Vaccinations that are required for adults include those for meningitis, seasonal flu, and the H1N1 flu virus. The guidelines do include an unspecific warning: “Health experts advise the following groups to postpone their plans for Hajj and Umrah this year for their own safety: The elderly, the terminally ill, pregnant women, and children.” (The Umrah is a secondary type of pilgrimage to Mecca, one that can be taken any time of the year.) In its health guidelines related to MERS, the Saudi health ministry has one reference to the pilgrimage, advising the wearing of face masks “in the overcrowded places during Hajj or Umrah.” A Malaysian study published in the Journal of Travel Medicine in 2010 found that more than 60 percent of Malaysian pilgrims developed respiratory systems, including coughs, sore throats and fever, during the 2007 Hajj. A French study, published in the same journal and examining French pilgrims at the 2009 Hajj, found that although almost 80 percent reported having worn face masks, their use “did not significantly reduce respiratory symptoms.” The most recent fatality reported to WHO by Saudi health authorities is that of a 14 year-old girl. It was noted that she is not from an area in the east of the kingdom called Al-Ahsa, where a cluster of cases at one hospital since April accounted for 22 infections and 10 deaths. According to the CDC, there have been no reports of anyone in the U.S. becoming infected with the virus, whose symptoms can include cause coughing, fever and pneumonia. ‘Alarming’ Much about the virus is unknown, including its origin (bats are a suspected host), how infections are occurring, the conditions under which it could spread from one person to another, and chances of mutation into a more easily-transmissible form. Experts say it is distinct from, but similar to, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which was blamed for 774 deaths between late 2002 and mid-2003, more than 80 percent of them in mainland China and Hong Kong. “Although the number of cases documented is limited, the morbidity and mortality of the infection is alarming, as is its uncanny resemblance – at least in its clinical features – to SARS,” the Coronavirus Study Group (CSG) of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses said in a report in May, at a time when the number of confirmed MERS infections stood at 30. “While a small minority of the known cases developed mild disease, most patients presented with a severe acute respiratory condition requiring hospitalization; the mortality rate is approximately 60 percent,” the CSG said. (The mortality rate currently is about 55 percent). While WHO has not issued travel or screening advisories, it is encouraging vigilance, saying travelers returning from the Middle East who develop severe acute respiratory infections should be tested for MERS. WHO is also advising clinicians that in patients whose immunity is compromised, MERS infection should be considered, even in cases of atypical symptoms, such as diarrhea. CNSNews.com is not funded by the government like NPR. CNSNews.com is not funded by the government like PBS.
A SHOPKEEPER was threatened with arrest by police after he displayed a T shirt in his shop window with the statement:
LONDON (AP) — One of the men accused of killing a British serviceman in broad daylight has called himself a soldier during a rambling court appearance. Michael Adebolajo appeared by video link from prison Wednesday at London's Central Criminal Court.
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