May 27, 2017

 

A bomb threat, racist taunts and graffiti are among a significant rise in hate crimes reported to Greater Manchester Police following Monday’s attack, the BBC can reveal.

The force said the number of such reports had doubled to 56 on Wednesday, from the 28 reported on Monday.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said the force was “monitoring” the situation.

Former Chief Crown Prosecutor Nazir Afzal said the attacker was a criminal not represented by any community.

Mr Afzal, who is also head of the Police and Crime Commissioners Association, said: “It is disappointing but it happens every time.

“After Brussels, after Paris, after the murder in Westminster….There is a spike…That is sad that people are targeting a whole community just because of the action of criminals, and they are criminals. They don’t represent the community.

“Jo Cox’s murderer doesn’t represent the white community of this country, the KKK don’t represent Christianity. But that said what we have to do is encourage people to come forward and report.”

Muslim leaders claim more crimes are not reported because people are “scared to talk”.

 

Full article:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-40064424