December 28, 2011

Council suspends worker linked to Norway gunman

A council worker has been suspended following a Sunday Times investigation into a network of far-right groups.

Chris Knowles, who is employed by the children’s services department at Leeds city council, has been questioned over his links to the English Defence League (EDL) and a website featuring anti-Muslim content.

Knowles has been accused by Paul Ray, a former senior EDL figure, of operating under an alias to disguise his controversial views. He has been using the name “Aeneas Lavinium” on Facebook and other websites linked to Anders Breivik, the Norwegian gunman who massacred 69 people in summer.

Last week Oslo police confirmed for the first time that Breivik travelled to Britain at least twice — in May 2002 and December 2003.

The gunman has claimed in his 1,600-page “manifesto” that during a trip to London in 2002 he met an English “mentor” who inducted him into a modern-day version of the Knights Templar Order. Police, however, have no evidence to verify this claim.

Ray says that Knowles attended a meeting in July 2009 at which members of the EDL were introduced to key ideological figures in the so-called “counter-jihad” community. He was involved at the time with a right-wing organisation called the Centre for Vigilant Freedom (CVF), which used an address in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, for correspondence. Another member of the organisation was Ann Marchini, a buy-to-let property tycoon who was revealed last weekend as an EDL backer.

The CVF is now part of the International Civil Liberties Alliance (ICLA) whose website includes many contributions from a writer called “Aeneas”. One article is about Fjordman, an anti-Islam blogger named 111 times by Breivik in his manifesto.

The site also features favourable items on the EDL and a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed with an exploding bomb on his head.

When Knowles was asked if he was Aeneas, he said: “I’m not willing to confirm anything.”

Leeds council launched its probe after being shown the ICLA website. A spokeswoman said: “We take the allegations made by The Sunday Times very seriously and a member of staff has been suspended while we undertake a thorough investigation. If there has been any breach of the council’s policies or code of conduct we will take appropriate action.”

Additional reporting: Mark Lewis in Oslo

Sunday Times

12 comments:

NewsHound said...

YAXLEY-LENNON FINALLY GOES TO THE COPS: -

http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/local/edl_leader_in_lay_by_attack_1_3371382

(BEWARE: BAD JOURNALISM WITH A EDL-SUPPORTING SLANT!)

gerry said...

Hope he gets the Chuffin' Sack!

If so, my Christmas would be absolutely complete.

This isn't the first time neo-nazis have been employed by Leeds council,if other antifash peeps can confirm this!

Anonymous said...

Just read this on the net about the Danish Defence League, the EDL's Mass Murdering Cousin: -

"André Eiby
Since there are many DDL members that the last days have left DDL, I would like to hear what you in EDL thinks about that now 4 divisions in few days has leftout of DDL. All agree that Brian in particular, and Bo has pulled DDL into a negative spiral that just gets worse and worse to great despair of the undersigned. Have the last few days had contact with the announced division managers who puts himself entirely unsympathetic towards the anti-democratic leadership at the top of DDL, Top is today ONLY Bo and Brian, which was never DDL's ideology that the DDL to be controlled by only 2 people , that I forecast several months ago that this would be DDL's death if not members did something about it. Today, the 5th. Division announced that they will no longer be a part of the DDL and calls for an alternative to this, or bruised, contact the EDL and explain to them how things are in DDL. That we are now many will do, and so we hope members' behalf that the future is still in the DDL, just with a new democratic leadership, ie. to brian BE away from DDL, he has nothing good done since the day I said good for him to join the DDL. Therefore, we, the DDL-members that haved left DDL in frustration over only 2 persons kontrol of DDL, the strict rules that only 2 persons agree in. We, the members, want EDL to get invovled in this matter, sill were many who respect and look up to EDL, but we cannot accept that 5 divisions in only few days has left DDL, that is about 200 members who want´s to die for there country and for DDL, so something has to be done. If not EDL can fix Brian and Bo´s head in the right directions, on behalf of 5 Divisionsleaders, we want´s to make a new leadership, Brian and Bo is only thinking about themselves making picture of themselves and the new project like BlogTalk are only for those to. André Eiby X-member, divisionsleader and spokesman for the former DDL."

NewsHound said...

EDL NEWS AWARDS:

http://www.edlnews.co.uk/edl-news/2011-edl-awards

YOUR CHANCE TO VOTE FOR THE EDL NEO-NAZI CLANGERS OF THE YEAR, MUSLAMIC RAYGUNS ETC ...

Anonymous said...

Cocky-looking EDL big cheese.

More loathsome than that racist fash lier Caxley-Lemon.

Anonymous said...

Is knowles a manager with Leeds Council?

Anonymous said...

The Knights Templar? Has this complete and utter walt been playing too much Assassin's Creed?

NewsHound said...

EDL FACEBOOK ADMINS COAXING FOLLOWERS TO ILLEGALLY INTIMIDATE OF TRAM EXPERIENCE COURTCASE WITNESS WITH THE HELP OF THEIR FRIENDS IN THE BRITISH PEOPLE'S PARTY: -

http://twitpic.com/7zurva

SHOCKING SCREENSHOT! PLEASE REPUBLISH, KETLAN!

Anonymous said...

Matty Coast of Souuthport Squadron (SS) has been a very naughty boy behind the back of his friends, lol

Anonymous said...

Not just sack. Hope he loses his pension also!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
"Just read this on the net about the Danish Defence League, the EDL's Mass Murdering Cousin: - "

You do realise that Norway and Denmark are different countries, yes?

They don't even share a fucking border!

Anonymous said...

Any journalist reading might find it profitable to investigate this so-called 'Knight Templar' grouping that is actively recruiting members in the HMRC.