BLUE HELL" ASSAULT ON WAL-MART PROTEST GREENS

Was murder of Green Party man linked to mass barrage of
threatening emails sent to Green Party HQ?


"...the storm has not even fucking begun... I hope you get crushed under
your disability claim book"


A mass attack of threatening emails sent to a local Green Party HQ may have
been linked to the murder last month of a local Green Party member.

Local Green Richard Pashley was found beaten to death with no apparent
motive three weeks ago (1). But on Monday night, overnight, Sheffield Green
Party's headquarters received an email saying "Brace yourself...as the storm
has not even fucking begun." - followed by several thousand threatening
messages including "I hope you get crushed under your disability claim book"
and "I hope you get crushed under Air Force One". Many of the emails were
disguised with titles like "anti-war banner" or "sack of GM free potatoes".

It is possible that "Blue Hell" might be the cover for a violent minority of
Sheffield Wednesday supporters. Sheffield Green Party has been leading the
campaign against a new Wal-mart store on a site rented by the heavily
indebted Sheffield Wednesday FC in Hillsborough (2). The Greens' chief
opponents have included supporters of Sheffield Wednesday, fearful for their
club's future.

Sheffield Greens have reported the matter to local police, who have
suggested use of spyware which gives details of senders. A spokesperson for
the Green Party of England & Wales said today:

"Our IT team are investigating email security measures for the party as a
whole, and will advise shortly.

"We don't know whether the murder of Richard Pashley had anything to do with
the barrage of threatening emails, but we're keeping an open mind. Someone
is obviously very annoyed at Sheffield Green Party, and there does seem to
be a link to the Wal-mart development application."


E-hooliganism and petty fascists

"It's possible that a minority of thugs have invented a sort of soccer
e-hooliganism, targeted on people they see as threatening their club's
future."

He concluded:

"Of course the Green Party will continue to oppose the siting of a new
Wal-mart store where we believe it will harm local businesses and damage the
local economy. We will not be cowed by threats of violence from petty
fascists."



Notes to editors

1. A man has been charged and a trial is expected in January.
2. The Green Party's concerns are that a new supermarket would have a
strongly adverse effect on a thriving local shopping area which includes
many local traders. Council planners are recommending the planning
application should be turned down.