ILFORD: Police investigate as Facebook page "boasts attacks on Jewish community" (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

ILFORD: Police investigate as Facebook page "boasts attacks on Jewish community"

9:04am Friday 5th February 2010 in

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POLICE are investigating after anti-Semitic posts were allegedly made on a page on social networking site Facebook.

The group page, which is said to have attracted more than 500 members, is reported to have contained posts in which users claimed to have attacked members of the Ilford Jewish community.

One of the messages reportedly referred to Jewish people as "dirty, filthy scumbags" as well as boasting of anti-Semitic violence.

It has since been removed by Facebook administrators.

According to the Jewish News, the group was created by a student at Loxford School of Science and Technology and a spokeswoman for the local education authority confirmed the pupil had been disciplined.

She said: "A school in the borough was contacted with information about an anti-Semitic Facebook group.

"The student concerned has been dealt with and the school has taken disciplinary action.

"There is an ongoing police investigation so we are unable to comment further."

She also said pupils cannot access Facebook at school.

A spokesman for the police confirmed an allegation was made on January 29 of "anti-Semitic material" being posted on a social networking site.

He added that inquiries are continuing.

A Facebook spokeswoman said: "We want Facebook to be a place where people can openly discuss issues and express their views, while respecting the rights and feelings of others.

"Groups that violate our policies, such as those which threaten hate or violence, will be removed by Facebook."

She also encouraged users to report violations of Facebook policies to administrators.