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Twelve British National Party activists have been arrested in Liverpool on suspicion of handing out racist leaflets claiming their people were experiencing racist violence, sexual exploitation and murder by Muslims.
The leaflet alleges the "average racist killer" is 40 times more likely to be from an ethnic minority than "a native Brit"; the Muslim community condones paedophilia; and the English are "relentlessly discriminated against by an institutionally hostile ruling class".
One passage reads: "Wherever there are large numbers of young Muslim men, groups team up to lure girls - often as young as 12 or 13 - into a nightmare world of sexual abuse, rape, beatings, drug addiction and prostitution."
The 12 men, aged from 19 to 70, were arrested in the city centre on Sunday.
The leaflet, "Racism Cuts Both Ways", is also available on the BNP's website.
Anti-racism campaigners are preparing to submit a Britain-wide complaint to the Metropolitan Police.
Assistant Chief Constable Colin Matthews of Merseyside said the arrests were made following the "distribution of leaflets ... which officers believe to contain racist content".
"Merseyside Police condemns racism and will take prompt action to support all our communities," he said.
West Mercia Police, which covers Worcester, where the leaflet apparently originated, are liaising with Merseyside.
Simon Darby, a BNP spokesman, said it planned a huge demonstration in Liverpool.
"It's a mystery, you tell me what you think is criminal or inciting about it," he said. "I don't think Merseyside Police have any idea what they have done. It's a knee-jerk reaction."
- INDEPENDENT
