Scotsman fined over drunken threat to "kill Muslims"

Edinburgh Evening News reports on the trial of a Scot who placed an early morning call to the emergency services claiming to be the National Front and threatening to “kill” Muslims after watching footage on the Charlie Hebdo murders in Paris.

Vincent Hannah, 51, was drunk at the time of making the call on 17 January. Hannah told the operator answering the call, “Muslims that’s killed Muslims and will only kill Muslims.”

When the operator asked if Vincent needed help with an emergency, Hannah said: “Get all those Muslims out this country, they have killed our people.”

The operator again asked Hannah if he needed police assistance with an emergency, but he replied: “No, I dinnae, this is the National Front here by the way.

“The police don’t give a f*** about this country, and you dinnae, because all the Muslims in the country, I’m going to kill them.”

Police traced Hannah to an address in Gowkshill, Gorebridge, from the phone number he made the call from early that morning and arrested him that evening.

Hannah’s defence lawyer told Edinburgh Sherriff Court he had been upset after reading of the massacres in Paris and that he had consumed alcohol while taking medication, which he should not have done.

His lawyer told the court Hannah was “ashamed” of his conduct saying “These are not views that he holds, he doesn’t know why he made these comments.”

Sheriff Gail Patrick fined Hannah £400, and said: “The emergency services are far too busy to cope with people like you. But I’m encouraged that you don’t hold these views, because terrorists are one thing and Muslims are quite another.”