Police investigating England flag 'death threat' on York walls against MP
Police are investigating after an England flag with an apparent death threat against an MP was placed on York city walls.
The St George’s Cross appeared on the historic wall near Walmgate saying: “This one’s for you Mas-kill.”
It is understood to be referring to York Central MP Rachael Maskell, currently suspended by the Labour Party, who has taken the message as a death threat and reported the incident to North Yorkshire Police.
It appears to be in reference to a speech Ms Maskell gave several years ago welcoming refugees to York. More recently, she called on people scaling lampposts to put flags up to respect the law.
North Yorkshire Police have arrested a 54-year-old man in connection with the incident, who remains in police custody.
The force is also appealing for witnesses in relation to the flag, which it said was put up around midday on Tuesday.
North Yorkshire Police said: “Two men are believed to have come to the aid of a woman who was verbally abused and followed by another man after she walked into the pole that was holding the flag.
“We are appealing to the men to come forward along with anyone else who was in the area at the time and witnessed the incident.”
Ms Maskell has declined to comment on the incident.
However, York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith said: “I’m proud of our flags, they’re a symbol for all of us who call this country home, and I’m proud of Yorkshire’s welcoming nature.
“But, we’ve seen over the summer a small group of people take advantage of people’s genuine patriotism and love for their community, county and country, to use these unifying symbols in an attempt to drive division, hatred and prejudice.
“Yesterday, we saw a dark and twisted side to the worst elements of this agenda. A sinister message on our shared flag on York’s city walls, threatening an MP who, whether you agree with her or not, has always done her best to represent the interests of the people who elected her to represent them.
“I am incredibly concerned about the state of our society. Far-right fascists are exploiting people’s genuinely held concerns about the cost of living and immigration and sowing seeds of division and hatred.”