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Police make arrest over hate blog post

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Police have arrested a man in relation to a blog post ahead of a neo-Nazi protest due to take place in north-west London next week.

The Community Security Trust confirmed it had been informed of an arrest made on Friday afternoon.

The group said the arrest was in relation to the demonstration, expected to take place next Shabbat, July 4 in Golders Green.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed its officers had worked with colleagues in Barnet and Somerset to arrest a 22-year-old man in Yeovil on Friday morning on suspicion of inciting racial hatred.

The man is in custody at a central London police station.

A police spokeswoman said: "Officers continue to assess all information and intelligence available in relation to the proposed demonstration and speak with the organisers to ensure we have an appropriate policing response in place.

"We are aware of concerns in the local community about the negative impact this proposed demonstration may have on them and are working with residents to ensure that people can exercise their rights in a way that is lawful, while minimising this impact."

On Wednesday night, white supremacist Joshua Bonehill-Paine posted a series of offensive images and comments on his website.

One image showed the walls of Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau and a can of weed-killer.

It carried the words: “Liberate Golders Green: An anti-Jewification event. We’ve become complacent and allowed for weeds to grow in the cracks of London. It’s time to clear them out with round-up and liberate Golders Green for future generations of white people.

“Join us on July 4 for what promises to be an absolute gas!”

A second image showed an emoticon designed to look like Hitler and read: “Hey kids! We’re going to Golders Green on July 4 for a party. Join us for what promises to be an absolute gas!”

Police were made aware of the post and other comments made by Bonehill-Paine in relation to the demonstration.

Last week he had claimed supporters were planning to burn copies of the Talmud ahead of the event.

Alerted to his possible imminent arrest by a Facebook post from the Campaign Against Antisemitism, Bonehill-Paine said he would remain defiant.

He wrote online: “Given the fact that I am literally on my last legal legs as so to speak, should Hertfordshire police move to arrest me then we can expect the Crown Prosecution Service and magistrates to remand me in custody.

“A few months in prison is absolutely no consequence to me, I’d be back out to continue leading the Anti-Jewification initiative and my voice will remain strong.”

The JC understands Bonehill-Paine lives in Yeovil.

CST has been told by police that an arrest has been made in relation to a blog post concerning the neo-Nazi GG demonstration on July 4th

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