Woman, 34, and man, 33, held ‘after threatening and abusing Rochdale taxi driver while referencing New Zealand mosque attack’
A MAN and woman were arrested for allegedly abusing and threatening a taxi driver in Greater Manchester while making sick reference to the New Zealand terror attack.
It was one of four alleged hate crimes in the UK following Friday’s massacre, including Nazi graffiti in Oxford.
Evil Brenton Tarrant slaughtered 50 worshippers at two mosques Christchurch after sending the country’s PM a hate-filled racist “manifesto”.
Two taxi passengers made reference to the atrocity in an incident in Rochdale, Greater Manchester Police said.
A spokesman said: “Shortly before 12.20am on Sunday morning officers were called to Queensway, Rochdale, to a report of a taxi driver being abused and threatened by members of the public who were referencing the terrorist attacks in New Zealand.
“Officers quickly attended and two people, a man aged 33 and a woman aged 34, were arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated public order offences.”
SPATE OF HATE CRIMES
Separately a 38-year-old woman from Rochdale was arrested for “a racially aggravated public order offence” after making comments online about the Christchurch attack.
And we told yesterday how a man aged 24 was arrested in Oldham after he shared his support for the twisted New Zealand terrorist on social media.
Meanwhile swastikas and far-right slogans which were “possibly linked to the attacks in New Zealand” were spray-painted on a wall near a school in Oxford.
Thames Valley Police is investigating after the graffiti appeared in Cheney Lane on Saturday.
Images show two swastikas as well as the words “sub 2 pewdiepie” on the wall near Cheney School and Oxford Brookes University.
The expression appears to refer to words uttered by the gunman during his Facebook livestream.
YouTuber PewDiePie, real name Felix Kjellberg, said later he felt “absolutely sickened having my name uttered by this person”.
I deplore the actions of the person or persons responsible for this graffiti and there are no excuses for those who carry out hate crimes.”
Superintendent Joe Kidman
Greater Manchester Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson said: “The events which happened two days ago in New Zealand continue to cause huge upset with people of all faiths from across Greater Manchester.
“Over the weekend we have had, however, a small number of incidents where people have either posted or made remarks referencing the horrible events in New Zealand, particularly online where people often think it is acceptable to abuse others.
Counter-terror cops are probing a stabbing by a maniac who shouted “kill all Muslims” near Heathrow in what officers called a terror attack “inspired by the Far right”.
Superintendent Joe Kidman said: “I deplore the actions of the person or persons responsible for this graffiti and there are no excuses for those who carry out hate crimes.
“Oxford is a tolerant community with strong links between our faith communities.
MOST READ IN NEWS
A 23-year-old rammed his car into the gates of an Australian mosque while hurling insults at worshippers hours after the Christchurch massacre earlier today.
While disturbing footage shows cowardly thugs armed with hammers fleeing after they attacked a worshipper near a mosque in East London on Friday.
The clip emerged after British Muslims called for increased police protection at mosques as senior members of the community fear that an attack in the UK will be “only a matter of time”.
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