Hillingdon councillor accused of 'stoking hatred' over social media comment
Cllr Sophie Dror's remark followed a machete attack in Cowley, sparking debate about immigration and ethnicity.
Incident → evidence → outcomeThe Leader of Hillingdon Reform, Cllr Sophie Dror, has been accused of "stoking hatred" in a social media group following a machete attack in Cowley on September 25. The accusation was made by the Leader of Hillingdon Labour, Cllr Stuart Mathers.
Cllr Dror has taken responsibility for the comment but rejected the accusation that it was stoking hatred. The remark, "import the 3rd world you get the 3rd world", was posted under a social media group post about the attack, following a comment from another member referring to "usual suspects".
Police confirm no suspect information released
The Metropolitan Police confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that no information about the background of the suspects was published. Cllr Mathers condemned Cllr Dror for "speculating [on] the ethnicity" when police had not revealed any details. He stated that "stoking hatred in our communities is not helpful in keeping our residents safe."
Cllr Dror stated that the comment was intended to be part of a wider discussion about immigration policies and mass migration, and not to refer to the ethnicity or nationality of the suspects involved in the Cowley incident. She acknowledged that, given the timing and context, the comment could have been misconstrued.
She further stated that the claim her comments were "stoking hatred" is a serious accusation she rejects. Cllr Dror added that political discussion about immigration should not be misrepresented as an attempt to incite hatred. She did not personally delete the comment and could not comment on why it was removed.
Attack and arrests
The machete attack occurred in Cowley Recreation Ground, next to the high street, at around 2.40pm on Friday, September 25. Emergency services attended the scene following reports of an altercation. Two teenagers were arrested in connection with the incident and have since been released on bail pending further enquiries.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed that any discussion around the nationality or ethnicity of the suspect was speculation.
Questions this report answers
01What is Cllr Sophie Dror accused of?
Cllr Sophie Dror, Leader of Hillingdon Reform, is accused of "stoking hatred" on social media. This follows a machete attack in Cowley, where she commented "import the 3rd world you get the 3rd world" on a post.
02What was Cllr Dror's response to the accusation?
Cllr Dror confirmed she made the comment but stated it was intended for a wider debate on immigration policies and mass migration. She denies it was meant to refer to the ethnicity of the suspects involved in the attack.
03What did the police say about the suspects?
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that no information about the background, nationality, or ethnicity of the suspects involved in the machete attack was published. They stated that any discussion around these details was speculation.
04What happened after the machete attack?
Two teenagers were arrested in connection with the machete attack in Cowley Recreation Ground. They have since been released on bail pending further enquiries by the Metropolitan Police.
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