A self-proclaimed white supremacist who praised the killings of three Pittsburgh police officers and encouraged more of the same was sentenced to 30 months in prison Tuesday on federal firearms charges.
Hardy Lloyd, 32, of Crafton pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in April. He was arrested in May 2009 after state probation officers received a tip from an FBI agent who saw a photograph of Mr. Lloyd posted on his blog in which he was holding a rifle.
During a May 27, 2009, search of his home, probation officers found 10 weapons. Mr. Lloyd was prohibited from having firearms because he was on probation from a 2004 case, in which he was accused of killing a female acquaintance, Lori Hann.
Although he was found to have acted in self-defense, Mr. Lloyd was found guilty of illegally possessing a firearm. He was sentenced to 111/2 to 23 months in jail to be followed by three years probation.
Mr. Lloyd's therapist, Anthony Mastroianni, who has been treating him for 10 years, told the court Tuesday his patient has Asperger's syndrome. He believes Mr. Lloyd has made significant progress in his treatment over the past year and is now functioning at about the age level of a 10th-grader.
Defense attorney John Knorr asked the judge to recommend Mr. Lloyd be imprisoned in a facility close to Pittsburgh so he could continue treatment with Mr. Matroianni.
He faced an advisory guideline range sentence of 24 to 30 months.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Picking told the judge that she believed Mr. Lloyd is a danger to himself and others.
"He exhorted others to commit acts of violence," she said, referring to his blog. "Others have tried throughout his entire life to rehabilitate him, and all have failed."
Senior U.S. District Judge Gustave Diamond called the guns found at Mr. Lloyd's home "a small arsenal."
"He has made expressions that indicate a potentially violent character," the judge said. "Whether these accurately reflect his inner nature and whether he would act out those statements ... I believe he is a potential danger to himself and others."
In addition to his prison term, Judge Diamond also ordered Mr. Lloyd to serve three years on supervised release. During that time, as part of the plea agreement, Mr. Lloyd is not permitted to run any type of website.
Post Gazzette
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
Muslim leader calls for Bradford emo to be halted (UK)
Dr Mohammed Iqbal, president of the Bradford branch of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, has backed the Telegraph & Argus campaign for the Home Secretary Theresa May to ban the planned Bank Holiday demonstration by the EDL.
Thousands of members of the group plan to swamp the city centre with supporters in what it has called “The Big One” on August 28.
Dr Iqbal said: “Ideally, I would like to think that the Home Secretary should step in and stop the march – that would be the best thing for all of us.
“I have had a discussion with all the political figures about this and the last thing we want is trouble.”
He added: “If it is not stopped at that level, then it must not be used as an excuse for violence and disorder. If it is, then they (The EDL) will win and that would be a tragedy for all of us.”
Dr Iqbal said he believed the march had been planned for “inflammatory” purposes and urged Muslims in Bradford not to “fall into the trap” set by the EDL.
Already, the umbrella organisation Bradford Together has collected more than 7,000 signatures in support of the ban.
Supporters include the Unite union, Bradford Chamber of Trade, Bradford University, Bradford Council for Mosques, MPs, councillors and members of the public.
The EDL says it is opposed to “Islamification”. It has held demonstrations in Leeds, Luton, Birmingham, Bolton and Dudley in recent years.
T&A readers can backthe ban by signing our petition calling for the Home Secretary to outlaw the march planned for Saturday, August 28.
Telegraph and Argus
Move to revoke licence of neo-Nazi chimney sweep (Germany)
As a chimney sweep and part-time soccer coach, Lutz Battke is a familiar face in the eastern German town of Laucha, near Erfurt.
The 52-year-old is a town councillor for the neo-Nazi NPD party and is under investigation after a 17-year-old Israeli player on his soccer team was beaten last April by a young man, allegedly a fellow team member, shouting “Judenschwein” (Jewish pig).
Because the football club, BSC 99, has declined to dismiss him, state authorities are determined to revoke his chimney sweep licence.
Extremism experts as well as some locals have expressed concern about whether Mr Battke, one of two NPD councillors, is well placed as coach to recruit new members. “Sports clubs are like an extension of home for young people,” said Gisela Goblirsch, who owns a youth club in Laucha. “The man doesn’t just switch off his own views and attitudes.”
With 13.5 per cent support in Laucha, the NPD polled its highest state-wide result here in local elections. The town is in the state of Saxony Anhalt which, surveys show, has one of Germany’s highest concentration of neo-Nazis. The April attack has made authorities in Saxony-Anhalt step up a two-year campaign against Mr Battke. Attempts to have him banned from working as a chimney sweep have so far failed, after several courts ruled that Mr Battke fulfilled his job obligations adequately.
After their latest court defeat yesterday, state economics minister Reiner Haseloff said the state would appeal once more.
“As a chimney sweep, the man has permission to enter apartments, with police help,” said Mr Haseloff. “Apartments in which perhaps migrants live. That’s something that would make me feel threatened.”
Over at BSC 99, team president Steffen Reisbach has said his hands are tied. Sport regulations stipulate he can dismiss his trainer only if, for instance, allegations of sexual abuse were made. “If we got rid of the Nazis in the football clubs here in the region,” he told a local paper, “many would just close down.”
Irish Times
The 52-year-old is a town councillor for the neo-Nazi NPD party and is under investigation after a 17-year-old Israeli player on his soccer team was beaten last April by a young man, allegedly a fellow team member, shouting “Judenschwein” (Jewish pig).
Because the football club, BSC 99, has declined to dismiss him, state authorities are determined to revoke his chimney sweep licence.
Extremism experts as well as some locals have expressed concern about whether Mr Battke, one of two NPD councillors, is well placed as coach to recruit new members. “Sports clubs are like an extension of home for young people,” said Gisela Goblirsch, who owns a youth club in Laucha. “The man doesn’t just switch off his own views and attitudes.”
With 13.5 per cent support in Laucha, the NPD polled its highest state-wide result here in local elections. The town is in the state of Saxony Anhalt which, surveys show, has one of Germany’s highest concentration of neo-Nazis. The April attack has made authorities in Saxony-Anhalt step up a two-year campaign against Mr Battke. Attempts to have him banned from working as a chimney sweep have so far failed, after several courts ruled that Mr Battke fulfilled his job obligations adequately.
After their latest court defeat yesterday, state economics minister Reiner Haseloff said the state would appeal once more.
“As a chimney sweep, the man has permission to enter apartments, with police help,” said Mr Haseloff. “Apartments in which perhaps migrants live. That’s something that would make me feel threatened.”
Over at BSC 99, team president Steffen Reisbach has said his hands are tied. Sport regulations stipulate he can dismiss his trainer only if, for instance, allegations of sexual abuse were made. “If we got rid of the Nazis in the football clubs here in the region,” he told a local paper, “many would just close down.”
Irish Times
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