POLICE INVESTIGATE HATE MAIL CAMPAIGN AGAINST MUSLIMS

From today's Leicester Mercury:

Police investigate hate mail campaign against Muslims

Police are investigating a hate mail campaign in which racist material has been posted to Muslim community groups. 

The threatening letter and a series of offensive drawings specifically ridiculing Islam were sent to at least nine organisations, chiefly in the Highfields and Spinney Hills area of Leicester. 

The final line of the letter contains the sinister message: "You will expect to receive a box from Pandora and a bright sun shall light up your organisation." 

The sender claims to be a representative of the infamous race-hate organisation the Ku Klux Klan. 

The material was also sent to the Leicester Mercury's headquarters.
Suleman Nagdi, spokesman for the Leicestershire Federation of Muslim Organisations, said: "We are working closely with the police to help them find the person responsible for this hate mail. 

"We have passed on all the information that we can, and we sincerely hope the police catch the perpetrators of this crime, which has caused deep upset."
Mr Nagdi said the targeted groups were all members of the federation, which is an umbrella body for mosques and other Muslim groups in the city and county.
Detective Inspector Rob Widdowson said: "Early indications are that the letters have been sent by one person. 

"We recognise the seriousness of these offences and are committed to identifying the offender." 

He said it was important that recipients of the documents handled them as little as possible to give police a better chance of obtaining forensic evidence. 

"If people identify what they believe to be an offensive letter, please put it to one side and contact us immediately." 

Inspector Bill Knopp is commander of Spinney Hill Park police station, which covers the area of the city where many of the affected organisations are based. 

He said: "We are taking this investigation very seriously in recognition of the impact these letters and drawings have had on those who received them." 

Police are keeping an open mind on what offences have been committed by those behind the hate mail. 

It is most likely that the charge, if brought, would be the offence of malicious communications, which can be punished with a prison sentence of up to six months. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det Con Widdowson on 0116 222 2222, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or send information via the police's website.