'Punish a Muslim Day' letters suspect charged with soliciting murder

David Parnham, 35, charged with 14 offences allegedly committed over two years

The letters called for members of the public to launch acid attacks and other violent attacks on Muslims in April (PA)

A man accused of sending letters calling on people to launch violent attacks on “Punish a Muslim Day” has appeared in court.

David Parnham is accused of 14 offences including soliciting murder with several rounds of malicious letters allegedly sent over two years.

The 35-year-old, of St Andrew’s Close in Lincoln, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday and was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on 29 June.

He is charged with two counts of encouraging the commission of criminal offences by sending letters promoting a so-called “Punish a Muslim Day” between February and June this year.

The letters claimed Europe and North America was being “overrun” by Muslims and contained a makeshift scorecard for attacks ranging from pulling off women’s headscarves to acid attacks, torture, bombing a mosque and “butchering” Muslims with guns, knives and vehicles.

Mr Parnham is also charged with five counts of sending packages containing substances the recipients feared were noxious between June 2016 and this month, five counts of sending letters conveying a threat and one of making a bomb hoax.

He was arrested on Tuesday by counter-terrorism police as part of an intelligence-led operation.

A residential property and office building in Lincoln city centre were searched by officers.