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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Leader of BNP 'racially abused' | Leader of BNP 'racially abused' |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| British National Party (BNP) leader Nick Griffin was racially abused by a man who made threatening "gun gestures" towards him, a court heard. | |
| The North West MEP was giving evidence in the trial of Tauriq Khalid. | The North West MEP was giving evidence in the trial of Tauriq Khalid. |
| The 23-year-old from Burnley is accused of shouting racial abuse at Mr Griffin and other BNP members who were demonstrating in the Lancashire town. | The 23-year-old from Burnley is accused of shouting racial abuse at Mr Griffin and other BNP members who were demonstrating in the Lancashire town. |
| At Preston Crown Court Mr Khalid denied a charge of using racially abusive threatening behaviour. | At Preston Crown Court Mr Khalid denied a charge of using racially abusive threatening behaviour. |
| The court was told that as Mr Griffin gave media interviews outside Burnley police station last November, Mr Khalid drove past and made the comment, returning shortly afterwards to make the gun gesture. | The court was told that as Mr Griffin gave media interviews outside Burnley police station last November, Mr Khalid drove past and made the comment, returning shortly afterwards to make the gun gesture. |
| Mr Khalid admits he stopped his silver Vauxhall Astra at the scene but says he swore at Mr Griffin and the hand gesture was a V-sign. | Mr Khalid admits he stopped his silver Vauxhall Astra at the scene but says he swore at Mr Griffin and the hand gesture was a V-sign. |
| Car number plate | |
| Ian Metcalfe, prosecuting, told the jury that the incident took place as several BNP members, including Mr Griffin, staged a peaceful demonstration against the arrest of four party colleagues. | |
| Mr Metcalfe said: "In the course of that demonstration Mr Griffin received some signals of support from members of the public and also signals of reproach from others. | |
| "The prosecution say the defendant went further and indeed broke the law." | |
| Mr Metcalfe said Mr Khalid shouted racial abuse at the group and then "by words or hand gestures to threaten to Mr Griffin that he was going to shoot him or have him shot". | |
| Mr Khalid then drove off and Mr Griffin left the demonstration. | |
| One of the protesters noted down the car registration number and Mr Khalid was later arrested. | |
| The case continues. | The case continues. |