The Press and Journal
Terrorism investigation sparked after political activist threatened to “blow Queen’s brains out” on Twitter
by REBECCA BUCHAN January 27, 2017, 4:45 am
A self-styled political activist sparked a major terrorism investigation after posting tweets threatening to kill the Queen during the Common Wealth games.
In one message Nationalist Alastair Peter Dow said he was “a man at war for my freedom” and that he wanted his “army” to put a bullet in the monarch’s head.
Yesterday, the 56-year-old was convicted of causing fear and alarm by putting offensive, abusive and threatening material about Her Majesty online.
Dow had denied the allegations against him and claimed the wording of his messages had been “blown out of proportion”.
He said that although he admitted composing the posts they should not have been taken literally, but instead seen as a piece of “rhetoric” reflecting his political views.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard yesterday that police were sent to Dow’s address in the city’s Hollybank Place on July 26, 2014.
They had been responding to “intelligence” which had been received claiming offensive material had been posted on Twitter threatening to harm the Queen.
Giving evidence, Detective Sergeant Martin Thomson said a specialist unit had been set up around the time to combat terrorism during the Commonwealth Games.
He said that because of the content of the messages he was instructed to execute a warrant at Dow’s house as there was a “genuine” perceived threat.
The court heard the messages had been sent by Dow to users he had not previously met, however they could be seen publicly on the microblogging site.
One message stated that he wanted to see the “Queen’s brains blown out and her body splattered over the ground”.
Another said: “As a man at war for my freedom against the imposed monarch I want my army to put a bullet in the Queen’s head.”
Dow, who represented himself, told the court he had not meant the messages to be taken literally.
He said any reasonable person should have known he did not have an army at his disposal.
He said: “Where did the police expect me to be hiding this army? In my cupboard or in my garden perhaps?”
The court heard he was opposed to the monarch being head of state and that he believed the country should be ruled by an elected body.
He said when he was talking about the Queen in his tweets he was speaking metaphorically about the demise of the monarchy in general.
Dow claimed he may have used “colourful” language while engaging in political debate but denied he intended to cause anyone fear or alarm.
He said: “The tweets were rhetoric, not threats. There was no way that tweet was threatening to the Queen.
“I do not want people to think I am a nutter who is going to attack the Queen. I’m not a terrorist, I am a political activist. It was not a threat.”
Dow said he did not hold a personal grudge against “Lizzie” and said: “I am sure she is a lovely old lady and a wonderful granny.”
Sheriff Morag McLaughlin said that although he argued his point well, she believed his rants had been “offensive” and that given the timing of the posts she could understand why they may have caused alarm.
Sentence was deferred for background reports and Dow will return to court next month.
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Evening Express
ABERDEEN MAN CONVICTED FOR OFFENSIVE TWEETS ABOUT QUEEN’S DEATH
BY REPORTER, 27 JAN 2017 08:42
Alastair Peter Dow, 56, had been on trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court accused of causing fear and alarm by writing offensive, abusive and threatening material about Her Majesty.
Dow had denied the allegations against him and claimed the wording of his messages had been “blown out of proportion”.
Alastair Peter Dow appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
He said, although he admitted composing the posts, they should not have been taken literally and instead should have been seen as a piece of “rhetoric” which bolstered his political views.
During the day-long trial yesterday, the court heard officers were sent to Dow’s address in Hollybank Place, Aberdeen, on July 26, 2014, after they received “intelligence” he may be threatening to harm the Queen.
Giving evidence, Detective Sergeant Martin Thomson said a specialist unit had been set up around the time to combat terrorism during the Commonwealth Games.
The court heard the messages had been sent by Dow to users he had not previously met.
One message stated how he needed to see the “Queen’s brains blown out & her body splattered over the ground”.
Another said “as a man at war for my freedom against the imposed monarch – ‘I want my army to put a bullet'” in the Queen’s head.
During evidence Dow, who was representing himself, told the court he had not meant the messages to be taken literally.
He said when he was talking about the Queen in his tweets he was speaking metaphorically about the demise of the monarchy in general.
Sheriff Morag McLaughlin said, although he argued his point well, she believed his rants had been “offensive” and, given the time they were posted, she could understand why they may have caused alarm.
Sentence was deferred on Dow for background reports to be carried out.
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BBC NEWS
Aberdeen man made Twitter threats against Queen
26 January 2017. NE Scotland, Orkney & Shetland
A man has been found guilty of posting abusive and threatening messages about The Queen on Twitter.
Alastair Dow's home in Aberdeen was raided by police after intelligence officers saw the posts made during the Commonwealth Games.
His computer was seized and he went on trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
Sheriff Morag McLaughlin told him she had assessed the tweets as offensive and abusive and found him guilty of the offence.
Det Sgt Martyn Thomson had told the court officers obtained a warrant to search Dow's flat.
He said: "Police Scotland had received information to the effect that Mr Dow had posted a threatening tweet against the Queen."
One tweet was said to have read: "It's not a little rest I need but to see your Queen's brains blown out and her body splattered over the ground."
Dow insisted that there was no intended threat behind the posts and insisted that they were just rhetoric and statements made on the spur of the moment.
Representing himself in court, he argued that the case was a bit of a storm in a teacup arguing that it was "very embarrassing" for the police to have made such a fool of themselves.
Sentence was deferred for reports until next month.
