MP subjected to anti-semitic abuse online now fears leaving her office
A JEWISH MP subjected to anti-Semitic abuse from an online troll fears leaving her office as a result, a court heard today.
Labour MP Luciana Berger talks outside court about her fears after receiving online abuse
Luciana Berger, Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, received thousands of tweets depicting her in grotesque ways, including as a concentration camp prisoner.
Last month, right wing extremist Thomas Mair was jailed for life for the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox who was shot and repeatedly stabbed as she campaigned for remain in the Brexit referendum.
Yesterday, Joshua Bonehill-Paine was found guilty at the Old Bailey of one count of racially aggravated harassment which included five abusive articles posted online between October 2014 and January 2015.
What happens online doesn't always stay online
The posts which included the titles "The Legacy of Operation Filthy Jew Bitch" and "Racist anti-white Jewish Labour MP Luciana Berger exposed" were published on websites run by the former public schoolboy.
The abuse campaign began after the conviction of Garron Helm in 2014, who tweeted "#HitlerWasRight", along with a picture of the MP with a yellow Star of David on her forehead.
Following Helm's conviction an American far-right publication called The Daily Stormer started an online campaign against Ms Berger called "Operation Filthy Jew Bitch' in which she was bombarded by 2,500 messages which included death threats and pornographic images.
Joshua Bonehill-Paine was found guilty yesterday of racially aggravated harassment
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The MP told the court: "At the time I was concerned for my personal safety.
"We know what happens online doesn't always stay online, and the use of the word battle was particularly worrying.
"Its fair to say it was the most concerned I have ever been for my personal safety since I was first elected.
Ms Berger was the target of online anti-semitic abuse in 2014 and 2015
"It was in the midst of this 'Filthy Jew Bitch' campaign the police were in constant contact with me.
"They were in my office and home and assisted my personal safety."