April Fools' Day 2016: Irish local newspaper's 'Paddy Jihadi' story criticised for Isis reference

The story claimed an Islamist had taken over a local landmark in Kildare

Kildare Now's homepage on 1 April 2016 (Kildare Now)

A local news website in Ireland has been criticised for publishing an April Fools' Day article making fun of terrorist attacks.

Kildare Now's article claimed an Islamist calling himself “Paddy Jihaddy” had raised the Isis flag above a local landmark and rigged the area with explosives, sparking a security lockdown.

"Jihadist annexes Kildare landmark," the headline read.

Kildare Now's April Fools' Day story (Kildare Now)

“Irish security forces have placed a ring of steel around the Allen area and road diversions are in place until further notice after an anonymous phone call by a male calling himself Paddy Jihaddy said he had rigged the area with explosives and that he was renaming the locality the Hill of Allah,” the story continued.

“A spokesperson for the Defence Forces has issued a statement saying that they hope to have the situation resolved by 12 noon when normal life can resume once more.”

A digitally alerted photo appeared to show the black flag used by groups including Isis and al-Qaeda from a tower sitting on the Hill of Allen.

The story was generating controversy online, with some readers calling the timing following the Brussels attacks “tasteless”.

The Independent has contacted Kildare Now for a comment.

It is not the first time Isis has been the subject of an April Fools’ Day gag.

Last year, the Hyperallergic arts website posted a story claiming the terrorist group was exhibiting a “floating pavilion of art destruction” in Venice.

“Bring your paintings! Bring your sculptures! Bring your cultural treasures! Then destroy them!” the event’s advert reportedly read.