Widespread media hysteria after fake letters in Exeter
F. Ake | 11.10.2001 16:49
Anti war FAKE letters claiming to be from Devon County Council were found on people's door mats in Exeter last Tuesday.
Residents were asked to phone up for free personal safety packs (incl. gas masks) due to Exeter's close proximity to miltary bases, making it a likely target.
The story made it to the front page of the Express & Echo (see pics), was covered by BBC Radio Devon in a 5 minute special report with interviews and appeared also on ITV Carlton TV.
The following story includes the original text of the fake letter and documents the media's response. (article 1)
Residents were asked to phone up for free personal safety packs (incl. gas masks) due to Exeter's close proximity to miltary bases, making it a likely target.
The story made it to the front page of the Express & Echo (see pics), was covered by BBC Radio Devon in a 5 minute special report with interviews and appeared also on ITV Carlton TV.
The following story includes the original text of the fake letter and documents the media's response. (article 1)
Widespread media hysteria after fake letters in Exeter
Anti war FAKE letters claiming to be from Devon County Council were found on people's door mats in Exeter last Tuesday.
Residents were asked to phone up for free personal safety packs (incl. gas masks) due to Exeter's close proximity to miltary bases, making it a likely target.
The story made it to the front page of the Express & Echo (see pics), was covered by BBC Radio Devon in a 5 minute special report with interviews and appeared also on ITV Carlton TV.
The following story includes the original text of the fake letter and documents the media's response.
--- start of letter ---:
"Dear Occupier,
The recent events in the USA and the subsequent militay actions in Afghanistan by US and British forces have led to a situation of concern for public safety.
As you are probably aware, Exeter is situated near a number of British Forces military bases i.e. the Royal Marines in nearby Lympstone, the Royal Navy's nuclear submarine base in Plymouth's Devonport dockyards as well as a number of other military bases and satellite surveillance stations (Bude).
The Home Offcice has serious concern for public safety in areas of military presence in the UK and has advised the regional and local councils to take appropriate measures to guarantee the safety of its population in case of chemical or biological attacks.
Whilst the Councl does not approve of the prime minister's response to the atrocities in New York and Washington, we do have to comply with Home Office instructions and take the following steps to protect the people of Exeter.
We have therefore decided to hand out a free NBC (nuclear, bioloical, chemical) Personal Safety Pack containing 1 protective NBC suit, 1 gas mask and 2 air monitoring devices as well as an instruction booklet. The safety pack is made from military grade materials and has been successfully tested by British troops during the gulf war.
Two telephone Hotlines have been set up to co-ordinate the distribution to Exeter's citizens. The numbers are 01392 383226 / 383290
Please phone promptly to reserve the correct number of packs for your household. The personal safety packs can only be handed out upon proof of the number of people living in your household. A driving license, passport or birth certificate is required as identification for each person when picking up the pack.
The NBC suits are issued in a number of sizes. Please advise your height when contacting us.
Thank you for your co-operation.
The Chief Executive, Devon County Council "
--- end of letter ---
COMMENTS:
The letter was using the official Council logo and was put in a recycled windowed envelope with a fake franking stamp on it.
Not surprisingly the press branded it as a sick joke, not an anti war action as the bit about "the council not agreeing with Blair's actions" was deliberately suppressed. Nontheless a woman being interviewed on the radio said: "I recognised it as a fake, but I must say that this has made me think a lot - about the war and the consequences and how the people must feel in Afghanistan".
UNDERMINE AUTHORITY AND CREATE YOUR OWN FAKE! MAKE PEOPLE THINK!
Residents were asked to phone up for free personal safety packs (incl. gas masks) due to Exeter's close proximity to miltary bases, making it a likely target.
The story made it to the front page of the Express & Echo (see pics), was covered by BBC Radio Devon in a 5 minute special report with interviews and appeared also on ITV Carlton TV.
The following story includes the original text of the fake letter and documents the media's response.
--- start of letter ---:
"Dear Occupier,
The recent events in the USA and the subsequent militay actions in Afghanistan by US and British forces have led to a situation of concern for public safety.
As you are probably aware, Exeter is situated near a number of British Forces military bases i.e. the Royal Marines in nearby Lympstone, the Royal Navy's nuclear submarine base in Plymouth's Devonport dockyards as well as a number of other military bases and satellite surveillance stations (Bude).
The Home Offcice has serious concern for public safety in areas of military presence in the UK and has advised the regional and local councils to take appropriate measures to guarantee the safety of its population in case of chemical or biological attacks.
Whilst the Councl does not approve of the prime minister's response to the atrocities in New York and Washington, we do have to comply with Home Office instructions and take the following steps to protect the people of Exeter.
We have therefore decided to hand out a free NBC (nuclear, bioloical, chemical) Personal Safety Pack containing 1 protective NBC suit, 1 gas mask and 2 air monitoring devices as well as an instruction booklet. The safety pack is made from military grade materials and has been successfully tested by British troops during the gulf war.
Two telephone Hotlines have been set up to co-ordinate the distribution to Exeter's citizens. The numbers are 01392 383226 / 383290
Please phone promptly to reserve the correct number of packs for your household. The personal safety packs can only be handed out upon proof of the number of people living in your household. A driving license, passport or birth certificate is required as identification for each person when picking up the pack.
The NBC suits are issued in a number of sizes. Please advise your height when contacting us.
Thank you for your co-operation.
The Chief Executive, Devon County Council "
--- end of letter ---
COMMENTS:
The letter was using the official Council logo and was put in a recycled windowed envelope with a fake franking stamp on it.
Not surprisingly the press branded it as a sick joke, not an anti war action as the bit about "the council not agreeing with Blair's actions" was deliberately suppressed. Nontheless a woman being interviewed on the radio said: "I recognised it as a fake, but I must say that this has made me think a lot - about the war and the consequences and how the people must feel in Afghanistan".
UNDERMINE AUTHORITY AND CREATE YOUR OWN FAKE! MAKE PEOPLE THINK!
F. Ake