Foreign Office diplomat arrested over 'anti-Semiti

[sweet soul]

Rowan Laxton, 47, an expert on the Middle East, allegedly shouted "f*****g Israelis" "f*****g Jews" while watching television reports of the Israeli attack on Gaza in the gym.

He is also alleged to have said Israeli soldiers should be "wiped off the face of the earth" during the rant, which was overheard by staff and gym members.

A complaint was made to police and Mr Laxton was arrested for inciting religious hatred through threatening words and behaviour. He was subsequently bailed until late next month.

The maximum penalty for inciting religious hatred is a seven-year prison term or a fine or both.

Mr Laxton, who is still working normally, is head of the South Asia Group at the Foreign Office, on a salary of around £70,000.

He is responsible for all the UK's diplomacy in that area and for briefing Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who is Jewish.

The alleged incident occurred after Mr Laxton went to the London Business School's gym in Regent's Park after work on January 27.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/4564216/Foreign-Office-diplomat-arrested-over-anti-Semitic-rant.html


hmm maybe he posts in this group!

[sweet soul]

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "It is too early to comment in detail on a matter that is currently the subject of police enquiries. But we take extremely seriously any allegation of inappropriate conduct on the part of our staff and continue to follow developments closely."

According to the Daily Mail, Mr Laxton has denied his comments were anti-Jewish but refused to answer when asked if they were anti-Israeli.

The Oxford graduate joined the diplomatic service in 1993 and rose rapidly through the ranks.

He ran the British High Commission in Pakistan for three years before moving to Afghanistan in 2001. He stayed in Kabul for two years, then returned to London. He was appointed head of his section last year.

Mr Laxton is believed to be separated from his wife, a banker who is working in the United Arab Emirates.

[Victor Meldrew]

Rowan Laxton, 47, an expert on the Middle East, allegedly shouted "f*****g Israelis" "f*****g Jews" while watching television reports of the Israeli attack on Gaza in the gym.

According to the Daily Mail, Mr Laxton has denied his comments were anti-Jewish but refused to answer when asked if they were anti-Israeli.

Yeah, that's fair enough. I can see how shouting out f*****g Jews can be construed as not being anti-Jewish too. Can't you?

Pakistan, Afghanistan and an ex-wife working in the UAE? Er, I'd hate to be accused of making unfair assumptions, but he does seem to have some quite close ties to Islamic communities?

I wonder how long it will be before Milliband recommends him to take over at the middle East desk.

[wetkingcanute]

Thank God he wasn't watching a news clip on the Sudan.
He may have shouted "Go on! Slaughter those Golliwogs - they're asking for it...it's the only language they understand."

[sweet soul]

Yea. Has the guy still got a job?
I mean, all Nick Griffin did was say that Islam is a nasty faith or summat like that, and he had to survive 2 court cases just for simply tellin the truth as now we all know.! Just ask a victim of muslim law. Or sharia.

[ricklinc]

How hard is it to sack a civil servant anyway? Let's find out. Not because of anti-semitism, I'm just curious.

Based on the available evidence it would be difficult to deny that the man hates hebes. Wonder how he gets on briefing Millibrand.