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19/05/2006
Trimble calls for website closure after murder threat
Former Ulster Unionist Party Leader, David Trimble has written to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, demanding that a website linked to the Real IRA, which is inciting his murder, be shut down.
The site is run by the 32 County Sovereignty Movement which is recognised as the political wing of the Real IRA, who are believed to be those responsible for the 1998 Omagh atrocity in which 29 people lost their lives.
It is understood that Mr Trimble wrote to Sir Ian Blair, enclosing a copy of the statement, which he referred to as "disgusting libellous statements" and "a clear incitement to murder me".
The letter called for Sir Ian to investigate the allegations behind the threat.
Families of the victims of the 1998 Real IRA bombing have been campaigning to have the website closed down for some time, and last week the US government said that they would do all they could to help them with their campaign.
Mr Trimble's letter to Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, stated that the Prime Minister had already assured campaigners that the matter would be dealt with, however Sir Ian was pinpointed as having lead responsibility on the issue.
The former First Minister also added that police in Scotland should become involved in the investigation, as it has emerged that the site is operated from a server in Glasgow.
David Trimble said: "It is a considerable disappointment to see that the site continues to operate. I have no doubt that if this website was a Fundamental Islamist site advocating murder, arrests and closure would now have happened.
"I do think it is a grave mistake for the authorities to permit the continued operation of what is in effect a terrorist support group."
He continued: "Whatever complacency there might have been within mainland police forces about this sort of activity must surely have ended after last year's bombs in London and I do hope that vigorous action will now be taken on this matter."
He concluded by saying that he would send a printout of the website to the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary, the NI Secretary of State and the Scottish Secretary.
(EF)
The site is run by the 32 County Sovereignty Movement which is recognised as the political wing of the Real IRA, who are believed to be those responsible for the 1998 Omagh atrocity in which 29 people lost their lives.
It is understood that Mr Trimble wrote to Sir Ian Blair, enclosing a copy of the statement, which he referred to as "disgusting libellous statements" and "a clear incitement to murder me".
The letter called for Sir Ian to investigate the allegations behind the threat.
Families of the victims of the 1998 Real IRA bombing have been campaigning to have the website closed down for some time, and last week the US government said that they would do all they could to help them with their campaign.
Mr Trimble's letter to Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, stated that the Prime Minister had already assured campaigners that the matter would be dealt with, however Sir Ian was pinpointed as having lead responsibility on the issue.
The former First Minister also added that police in Scotland should become involved in the investigation, as it has emerged that the site is operated from a server in Glasgow.
David Trimble said: "It is a considerable disappointment to see that the site continues to operate. I have no doubt that if this website was a Fundamental Islamist site advocating murder, arrests and closure would now have happened.
"I do think it is a grave mistake for the authorities to permit the continued operation of what is in effect a terrorist support group."
He continued: "Whatever complacency there might have been within mainland police forces about this sort of activity must surely have ended after last year's bombs in London and I do hope that vigorous action will now be taken on this matter."
He concluded by saying that he would send a printout of the website to the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary, the NI Secretary of State and the Scottish Secretary.
(EF)
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