BRITAIN: A senior police officer engaged in a high-profile race row with senior figures at Scotland Yard has received "very credible" death threats, according to his solicitor.
Assistant commissioner Tarique Ghaffur (53) has been forced to take extra security precautions as a result of threatening e-mails and phone calls, some of which originated from serving officers, it has been claimed.
Mr Ghaffur last month submitted an employment tribunal claim including allegations against Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Ian Blair and other senior policemen. Documents claimed Sir Ian played a role in a campaign of harassment against Mr Ghaffur.
At a press conference last week, Mr Ghaffur said the commissioner had discriminated against him "over a long period of time", sidelined him from his 2012 Olympics role, and victimised him once his intentions became public.
The Metropolitan Police has rejected the claims and vowed to "robustly challenge" them.
Mr Ghaffur's lawyer, Shahrokh Mireskandari, yesterday confirmed newspaper reports that security was being hired.
On the threats, he said: "It has been by e-mail, and phone. We [the law firm] have received some as well. They are very serious and we do not have the trust and confidence in the people we have to go to to get security." - (PA, Reuters)