A Dundee man has been charged with posting racist and abusive messages on Facebook over the Manchester bombing.
The Tele can reveal that Alister Craigie, 59, of Balmore Street in Stobswell, was arrested and charged by police for allegedly making remarks about English people in the wake of last Monday’s tragedy — which saw 22 people killed by a suicide bomber.
Craigie allegedly took to social media just hours after the atrocity to make comments about the victims.
He also allegedly responded to questions from other people to say that people at a concert deserved to die if they were English.
He appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court to face a charge of sending “racist, abusive and offensive comments” in relation to the bombing.
It is alleged that Craigie sent public messages to Martin Hogg, Gavin Carson, Claire Gallagher, David Vanegas and Gordon Taylor — all members of the public — at his home address as well as West Bell Street, Fintry Terrace and elsewhere in Dundee, and addresses in Kirkcaldy and Leith.
Prosecutors claim that Craigie’s messages were “grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character” and were sent on Monday and Tuesday. The charge also states that Craigie’s messages were racially-aggravated.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge and will appear in court again in August for an intermediate diet — with a trial due to begin in September.
A police spokesman said: “Police Scotland can confirm that a 59-year-old man from the Stobswell area was arrested and charged with communications offences relating to abusive comments on Facebook.
“He appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court on Thursday.”
Many of the victims of Monday’s blast, as people left an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester Arena, were children.
They included Scottish schoolgirl Eilidh MacLeod, 14, from Barra in the Outer Hebrides.
A total of 41 Scottish people were said to have witnessed events at the gig.
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