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Websites include "sinister" threats against journalists

Police are investigating a dossier of threats made against journalists in West Yorkshire on extreme right-wing websites.

The dossier has also been taken up by an MP who has sent it on to Home Secretary David Blunkett.

It includes evidence that right-wing extremists are seeking the home addresses of journalists.

The Leeds Branch of the National Union of Journalists prepared the dossier after photographs and names of some of its members appeared on an extreme-right website Redwatch.

Those targeted include journalists simply covering anti-racist demonstrations and counter demonstrations in Leeds.

But other linked websites Combat 18 and Blood and Honour, contain more sinister threats, in one case declaring open season on Yorkshire Evening Post reporters Peter Lazenby and Paul Robinson, who had written articles about the extreme-right British National Party.

Peter had been involved in an investigation into the BNP before local elections in May, when the party was mounting a bid for seats on councils in West Yorkshire.

The C18 website contained exchanges of messages between extremists and calls to scare off the journalists. But reporters are by no means the only targets. The websites have listed councillors, officials, MPs and even police officers.

The NUJ dossier was sent to West Yorkshire Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn and Leeds Labour MP Hilary Benn, who forwarded it to Home Secretary David Blunkett asking what action could be taken.

Since the dossier was published anti-racism groups elsewhere in the country have launched calls for action against the websites.

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