Leader of BNP 'racially abused'

Nick Griffin was demonstrating in Burnley with other party members

British National Party (BNP) leader Nick Griffin was racially abused by a man who made threatening "gun gestures" towards him, a court heard.

The North West MEP was giving evidence in the trial of Tauriq Khalid.

The 23-year-old from Burnley is accused of shouting racial abuse at Mr Griffin and other BNP members who were demonstrating in the Lancashire town.

At Preston Crown Court Mr Khalid denied a charge of using racially abusive threatening behaviour.

The court was told that as Mr Griffin gave media interviews outside Burnley police station last November, Mr Khalid drove past and made the comment, returning shortly afterwards to make the gun gesture.

Mr Khalid admits he stopped his silver Vauxhall Astra at the scene but says he swore at Mr Griffin and the hand gesture was a V-sign.

Car number plate

Ian Metcalfe, prosecuting, told the jury that the incident took place as several BNP members, including Mr Griffin, staged a peaceful demonstration against the arrest of four party colleagues.

Mr Metcalfe said: "In the course of that demonstration Mr Griffin received some signals of support from members of the public and also signals of reproach from others.

"The prosecution say the defendant went further and indeed broke the law."

I am quite used to people making gestures at me... but there is a difference between that and making a gun gesture Nick Griffin

Mr Metcalfe said Mr Khalid shouted racial abuse at the group and then "by words or hand gestures to threaten to Mr Griffin that he was going to shoot him or have him shot".

Mr Khalid then drove off and Mr Griffin left the demonstration.

One of the protesters noted down the car registration number and Mr Khalid was later arrested.

Giving evidence, Mr Griffin said he was abused on two occasions that afternoon, firstly by the driver of a private hire cab and then by the driver of the silver Astra.

Demonstrating the alleged gun gesture to the jury, Mr Griffin said: "The second time I saw him, he leaned out of the car and pointed at me and made a gun and gang gesture.

"I took it to be in the manner of a handgun."

'Not misheard'

Mr Griffin then said he heard the defendant shout "I'm going to..." but did not hear the rest of the sentence.

Mr Griffin said: "I took it as 'kill you' or 'shoot you'.

Under cross-examination by Mark Stuart, defending, Mr Griffin denied he had misheard what Mr Khalid said.

Mr Griffin said: "I am quite used to people making gestures at me, it doesn't bother me.

"But there is a difference between that and making a gun gesture, it is a direct threat."

The case continues.