Police probe "kick a ginger" Facebook group

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 24 Nov 2008 at 09:47

A Facebook group that incited people to kick a person with red hair is being investigated by police.

The group was set up by a 14-year-old Canadian boy who was apparently inspired by an episode of South Park. The group attracted around 5,000 members, and asked them to kick somebody with red hair on 20 November.

The group resulted in dozens of school children being assaulted in Canada, with one school in Vancouver reportedly sending 20 students home over the incident. The group's founder has since apologised, claiming the site was intended as a joke.

However, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have launched an investigation and warned there could be charges for those responsible.

"We do treat this sort of thing seriously," a spokesperson told the Vancouver Sun newspaper. "This is sort of inciting hate. It's a hate crime, really."

The site also provoked a furious backlash from other Facebook members, with dozens of new groups set up in protest. The group has since been pulled from the site.