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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To suspect police are worried about vigilantes - Epsom attack

851 replies

ReadingCrimeFiction · 14/04/2026 16:19

I live relatively close to Epsom and so this appalling assault is all over my news feeds and social media.

BBC News - Town left in shock by appalling rape outside church
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8dl5yevjg9o

The police have asked for witnesses but no descriptions have been given. Cue lots of very disturbing posts and comments from people who very clearly think these men are not white.

I can think of half a dozen scenarios where this is not being disclosed but, based on the comments, I think it all comes down to fears that local communities will take it on themselves to "apprehend" anyone who even vaguely looks like the perpetrators? And while the comments I am seeing are mostly white people being disgusting in their assumptions about brown and black people, i can imagine police would he equally concerned if, for example, the woman was Asian or Black and her attackers were white.

Is this where we are at? Where people make horrible racist assumptions and/or where police have to worry about how they will protect the broader community if they give any details of criminals?

A church built with stone. There is a sign in front of the building.

Epsom left in shock by appalling rape outside church

Helen Maguire says she is "appalled" by the incident outside Epsom Methodist Church on Saturday.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8dl5yevjg9o

OP posts:
Thread gallery
32
JHound · 27/04/2026 10:21

LBFseBrom · 27/04/2026 00:46

Yes.
Lots of people are fascinated by such things but doesn't mean they espouse them.
As a teenager I had a copy of 'Guerilla Warfare' by Che Guevera (bought after watching the film, 'Che'). I am a pacifist but I found him fascinating. I know how to make a Molotov cocktail but never had any intention of doing so.
Boys are known to like violent films and video games.

The Southport killer was not a Muslim, he was a very disturbed young chap. His religious affiliation and ethnicity was hardly relevant.

Edited
Show quote history

I think for some people they are desperate to believe he was muslims and are desperately trying to find anything that fits their manufactured narrative.

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