BNP bomb-makers: not newsworthy?

October 24, 2006 11:59 AM

Not In The Newsfilter: Yesterday, two men attended their pre-trial hearing at Preston Crown Court, accused of possession of explosive material. As previously reported only in local newspapers, Robert Cottage was in possession of 'what is believed to be a record haul of chemicals used in making home-made bombs', while a search of former BNP candidate David Bolus Jackson's house 'uncovered rocket launchers, chemicals... and a nuclear biological suit'. Some webloggers, and the left-wing press, are wondering whether the story might have received more coverage if the suspected bomb-makers had been, say, Muslims. The BBC blame reporting restrictions.
posted by jack_mo (19 comments total)

Send them back! Send them back!

...oh.

Carry on as you were, then.
posted by randomination at 12:08 PM on October 24, 2006

And in the United States...
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:17 PM on October 24, 2006

Clearly this is Stalins fault.
posted by Artw at 1:05 PM on October 24, 2006

Meanwhile in Paris, brown working-class Muslims burning cars are a threat to civilization, whereas middle-class white students burning cars are boisterously exerting their right to free speech.
posted by carter at 1:11 PM on October 24, 2006

The lack of coverage from anyone quite wweird. Nothing on AP, Reuters etc...

Possibly we're not seeing much because we're still at the "alleged" stage, and reporting on any criminal case before a conviction is made is generally quite limited (see the differences between the reporting on the liquid bombs case inside and outside of the UK), but it's still quite odd.

Presumably if convictions are made we'll hear a lot more about it.
posted by Artw at 1:12 PM on October 24, 2006

and only 6 comments so far!
posted by virga at 3:06 PM on October 24, 2006

I'm not shocked. This happened outside of London where what qualifies as reporting is talking to the old lady who has drainage problems in her yard that council refuses to address.
posted by srboisvert at 3:16 PM on October 24, 2006

I'm surprised the focus of the bloggers and the poster here is the fact mainstream media hasn't found it newsworthy. And not the fact, some racist idiot had the largest cache of explosives producing chemicals ever found in someone's house. Reporting restrictions, general atmosphere of unwarranted hysteria about Muslim nutters, supposed lack of integration of Muslims etc. 'the Muslim problem' - as some puckered-up-dogs-arse-for-a-mouth woman called it on a Channel 4 debate last night - all these explain why the response would be so much more if it was a pair of Muslim extremists. The general public (read 'white majority') are far more concerned about the threat of Muslim extremism (directed against them) than white racist extremism (directed against minorities). Sad but true. Even supposedly impartial news organisations choose which stories they report impartially to their audience.

Me, I'm thinking more of what might have been. If some BNP nut job starts a sectarian campaign against Muslim communities around the country I dread the consequences. You only have to look at Iraq to see how viciously effective sectarian violence is at getting a normally silent majority involved in mindless killing (that reads like a Godwin-type comment but still...).

I know the Muslim-baiting in the press is getting horrific of late (who the fuck allowed that to happen eh Jack?) but at some point you can't help but think of how this stuff might impact on you and yours rather than just sniping at the press / government / the system for doing this whole WoT so crassly. The fact that there is clearly a terrorist threat to lives and to social cohesion, at some point has to take priority over the self-indulgent, smug criticism of those in power by those with limited knowledge and no responsibility.
posted by pots at 3:41 PM on October 24, 2006

And previously, wherein I posted this, which I post it again, because the police response still leaves me dumbfounded.
posted by carter at 4:02 PM on October 24, 2006

I’m wondering whether the story might have received more coverage if the suspected bomb-makers had been, say, competent. In the slightest degree.

“He drives a yellow bus taking disabled children to school”

Reading the litany of their crimes (albeit from wiki) that seems about as hard-assed...er, sorry, britishfilter - hard-arsed - as they get. CS gas and a pair of brass knuckles? Threatening words and behavior?
Colin Smith there shows some promise (albeit misguided) assaulting a cop, but if on your way to blow up some Trotskyites (nice mainstream choice of enemy there btw pinhead), your nail bomb accidentally explodes while you’re carrying it and you are well enough to serve jail time?
Ya might want to re-think the whole “brick, boot, and fist” thing, quit trying to make bombs and “fighting” for the “cause” and just stick to being a retired dentist. Take up golf or something.

Sure Muslims get a bad rap, but at least when they are they’re being associated (albeit unfairly) with terrorist groups, they are considered competent and successful enough to be a danger to someone at least foot away.

Guy in their organization is carrying a nail bomb that goes off in his hands and he lives. How can you not get a kick out of a retired dentist who drives disabled kids to school trying to play crazy maniac hard case racist bomber?

And that Nick Griffin (from his pic on wiki) doesn’t look like the sort of leader that fills one with confidence. Seems to be the M.O. for white supremacist organizations though. Double points if he’s a child molester.

Again, racism is bad, but if I’m a terror suspect, link me with someone hard core, man.
“LTTE? You think I’m a Tamil Tiger? Oh no! Those guys are maniacs!”
(as opposed to)
“Asbat al-Ansar? ...Those ‘partisan’ guys that bomb casinos and bars? You think I’m one of those idiots? Phht. Whatever.”
*tongueincheekfilter*
posted by Smedleyman at 4:32 PM on October 24, 2006

Some ... are wondering whether the story might have received more coverage if the suspected bomb-makers had been, say, Muslims.

You don't say.
posted by prost at 4:37 PM on October 24, 2006

When I saw that link it did remind me of Krar, who got less than 10 years for actually having weapons of mass destruction and a plan to use them in the US, while who knows how many people are in Gitmo indefinitely because they basically got sold by local villagers to American forces in Afghanistan...

Remember Ronin? "It was never about the case."
posted by clevershark at 5:09 PM on October 24, 2006

I'm surprised the focus of the bloggers and the poster here is the fact mainstream media hasn't found it newsworthy. And not the fact, some racist idiot had the largest cache of explosives producing chemicals ever found in someone's house.

Good point, but I do still think it's interesting that media coverage has been so sparse.

Smedleyman - yeah, the BNP are indeed a useless, stupid bunch, but given that the last ex-BNP member to go on a bombing spree killed three people and injured 129 others, I think it's fair enough to be worried about right-wing nuts with a load of dangerous chemicals and a rocket launcher.
posted by jack_mo at 5:45 PM on October 24, 2006

Stories like this gives people who have rocket launchers for asthetic, collection purposes a bad rap.
posted by shnoz-gobblin at 5:59 PM on October 24, 2006

I'd kind of like confirmation that this rocket launch wasn't just a bunch of fireworks stuffed down a drainpipe before I really start panicking. But we'll probably have to wait for them, to have their day in court before we get any details.

Damn you British legal system for being inconvenient to the idly curious! I want American style trial-by-media!
posted by Artw at 7:01 PM on October 24, 2006

On investigation they discovered that reporting restrictions were in place which severely curtailed what could be said by the media.

Debby Moyse
Assistant to the Head of BBC TV News

This really doesn't look like a case of media bias to me. Looks more like the government has slapped a DA notice on them.

Stop bashing The Media, start bashing Censorship and The Government?
posted by TheophileEscargot at 12:06 AM on October 25, 2006

Yet the BBC had to investigate in order to find out that there were media restrictions in place so they didn't even know they were gagged.
posted by srboisvert at 1:43 AM on October 25, 2006

If it's not on the PA, it isn't news. The media has always been incestuous, now that budgets are being cut and very few people are doing original reporting outside of London it's gotten to ridiculous levels. We're all constant rehashes of each other, while stories on our doorstep pass us by.

The role of PA, and to a lesser extent BBC, reporting in setting the agenda of British news would horrify people, I think.
posted by bonaldi at 3:35 AM on October 25, 2006

Some webloggers, and the left-wing press, are wondering whether the story might have received more coverage if the suspected bomb-makers had been, say, Muslims.

Maybe it's not to give the bnp any publicity ? You know, failed putchses, show trials, mein kampf and all that - they love that stuff, don't they ?
I cant really see the bnp getting beyond a certain level in this country, but england may be another matter obviously.
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:00 PM on October 25, 2006