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The brother of a Manchester bombing victim has condemned the “astonishing” abuse he has received from far-right trolls after speaking out against hatred and Islamophobia.
Dan Hett , the brother of Martyn Hett – who was one of the 22 people who died in the blast at the Manchester Arena in May – has been an outspoken critic of those who have tried to use the attack as an excuse to denounce Islam and immigration.
Posting examples of the abuse he has received on social media on Twitter, he said he was “not afraid to speak out”.
Manchester bombing victim's parents 'not giving in to hatred' Far-right users told Mr Hett that “Islam killed [his] brother]”, that he was “a disgrace” and one wished “a terrorist [would] mow you idiots down”.
The 32-year-old said he was “tempted to post literally every message I’ve received since this began, tweets and emails and DMs, doing this online is not a shield”.
But instead, he said he would go out and enjoy a day in the park with his children.
It is not the first time the Bafta award-winning artist and creative technologist has suffered abuse or spoken out against hatred.
Mr Hett spoke to The Guardian in the weeks after his 29-year-old brother was killed to denounce those who use the actions of bomber Salman Abedi to called for an end to immigration.
The Hett brothers are “half-Turkish Mancunians” who were originally born to a Muslim family even though they are not religious.
He said: “The idea that somebody would say: ‘Oh, this is an immigration problem’ frustrates me. How is this an immigration problem? A UK-born terrorist took out, among many other people, my UK-born Turkish brother … In an alternate timeline, the roles could have been reversed.”
He has now dedicated himself to the fight against extremism and last month was announced as the first speaker a TEDx conference due to be held in Manchester in February 2018.
Manchester explosion in picturesShow all 37 1 /37Manchester explosion in pictures Manchester explosion in pictures People running down stairs as they attempt to exit the Manchester Arena after a blast, where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing, in Manchester
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Manchester explosion in pictures Helpers attend to people inside the Manchester Arena after a suspected suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at the end of an Ariana Grande concert, killing 22 people
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Manchester explosion in pictures Armed officers guard outside a hotel near the Manchester Arena following reports of an explosion, in Manchester, Britain
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Manchester explosion in pictures Police officers are seen outside the Manchester Arena, where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing, in Manchester, northern England
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Manchester explosion in pictures Police and fans close to the Manchester Arena, after reports of an explosion
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Manchester explosion in pictures There have been reports of explosions at Manchester Arena where Ariana Grande had performed
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Manchester explosion in pictures Police deploy at scene of explosion in Manchester, England, at a concert in Manchester Arena
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Manchester explosion in pictures Police stand by a cordoned off street close to the Manchester Arena
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Manchester explosion in pictures Police deploy at scene of explosion in Manchester, England
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Manchester explosion in pictures Police deploy at scene of a reported explosion during a concert in Manchester, England, on May 23, 2017. British police said early May 23 there were "a number of confirmed fatalities" after reports of at least one explosion during a pop concert by US singer Ariana Grande. Ambulances were seen rushing to the Manchester Arena venue and police added in a statement that people should avoid the area
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Manchester explosion in pictures An ambulance drives away from the Manchester Arena, where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing, in Manchester
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Manchester explosion in pictures Police escort members of the public from the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England.
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Manchester explosion in pictures A woman sits in the street in a blanket near the Manchester Arena as police guard the area following reports of an explosion, in Manchester, Britain
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Manchester explosion in pictures A Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) bomb disposal robot is unloaded outside the Manchester Arena following reports of an explosion, in Manchester. At least 19 people have been confirmed dead and others 50 were injured, authorities said. It is being treated as a terrorist incident until police know otherwise
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Manchester explosion in pictures A Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) bomb disposal robot is unloaded outside the Manchester Arena following reports of an explosion, in Manchester
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Manchester explosion in pictures Members of the public receive treatment from emergency service staff at Victoria Railway Station close to the Manchester Arena on May 23, 2017 in Manchester, England. There have been reports of explosions at Manchester Arena where Ariana Grande had performed this evening. Greater Manchester Police have have confirmed there are fatalities and warned people to stay away from the area
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Manchester explosion in pictures Armed police after a suspected terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena at the end of a concert by US star Ariana Grande left 19 dead
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Manchester explosion in pictures Emergency services arrive close to the Manchester Arena in Manchester
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Manchester explosion in pictures An amoured police vehicle patrols near Manchester Arena in Manchester
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Manchester explosion in pictures A man carries a young girl on his shoulders near Victoria station in Manchester
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Manchester explosion in pictures Police officers stand at the Miller Street and Corporation Street Crossroads, in front of the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England
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Manchester explosion in pictures Police block a road near to the Manchester Arena in central Manchester, England
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Manchester explosion in pictures Armed police patrol near Victoria station in Manchester, northwest England. Twenty two people have been killed and dozens injured after a suspected suicide bomber targeted fans leaving a concert of US singer Ariana Grande in Manchester
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Manchester explosion in pictures Police forensic officers leave the Manchester Arena as they investigate the scene of an explosion in Manchester
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Manchester explosion in pictures A forensic officer collects evidence on a walkway between Victoria station and Manchester Arena following a deadly terror attack in Manchester,
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Manchester explosion in pictures A woman and a young girl wearing a t-shirt of US singer Ariana Grande talks to police near Manchester Arena following a deadly terror attack in Manchester,
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Manchester explosion in pictures Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Manchester City Council Leader Sir Richard Leese speak to the media outside Manchester Town Hall after a suicide bomber killed 22 people, including children, as an explosion tore through fans leaving a pop concert in Manchester
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Manchester explosion in pictures The media gather behind a police cordon in Manchester
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Manchester explosion in pictures Flowers left close to the Manchester Arena, the morning after a suicide bomber killed 22 people, including children, as an explosion tore through fans leaving a pop concert in Manchester
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Manchester explosion in pictures Ariana Grande concert attendees Karen Moore and her daughter Molly Steed, aged 14, from Derby, leave the Park Inn where they were given refuge after last night's explosion at Manchester Arena
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Manchester explosion in pictures Signs saying 'We love Manchester' are displayed in a window in Manchester, England
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He will be speaking about extremism, media and technology at the event.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News , he said: “I want to talk about the responsibility of normal people to speak out and not ignore what is going on.
“I am putting myself on the line but the downside is that I am getting an enormous amount of trolling on Twitter. I am being swamped by far right extremism.
“Tech companies have got a lot of work to do to fix this problem but it is fixable.”