Wednesday, December 14, 2005
SMS hatred spreads to WA
TEXT messages similar to those that fuelled racial violence in Sydney's south have surfaced in Western Australia, police say.
Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan today confirmed two text messages had turned up in WA this morning.However, he said he had no details on the content of the messages.
"They are not linked to any activities in Western Australia at this stage," Commissioner O'Callaghan said.
Text messages used to incite mob violence against people of Middle Eastern appearance in Cronulla on the weekend surfaced in Queensland and Victoria this week.
Queensland police said yesterday the mobile phone text message had called for people to start "cracking skulls".
New South Wales police said today similar messages had also been reported in Victoria.
Mr O'Callaghan said he did not expect the violence in NSW to spread to WA.
"I do make the point that the violence that we have seen occur in New South Wales is the result of pressure building up over time as a result of a specific social issue that is not evident in Western Australia," he said.
"I am not concerned that the particular issue in New South Wales will spread to WA."
He said WA had a comprehensive contingency plan in place should there be an outbreak of violence.
