Steve Greene
2007-06-14 02:21:33 UTC
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=461683&in_page_id=1773
Until now, their most bitter enemies have been the odd irksome
restaurant critic and cantankerous diner.
But Rick Stein and Jamie Oliver have suddenly found themselves the
targets of far more ominous opponents - a self-styled terrorist group.
The little-known Cornwall National Liberation Army has resurfaced for
the first time in 20 years to issue a series of murderous threats
against the chefs and customers of their restaurants in the county.
In an email sent to local businesses and newspapers, the CNLA warns of
fires and explosions at premises of the "English incomers".
Stein and Oliver have alienated local people, it says, and the chefs'
customers will be considered legitimate targets in a campaign to
remove the "imperialist English flag of St George" from Cornwall.
Despite the organisation not having the reputation of more fearsome
terror groups, police said the threats were being taken "very
seriously".
Oxfordshire-born Stein has several successful restaurants in Padstow,
while Essex boy Oliver owns the Fifteen Restaurant in Watergate Bay on
Cornwall's north coast. The
CNLA, which claims to have "substantial" funding from the U.S., wants
Cornwall to be granted independence from the UK based on historic
evidence that it is not a county but a separate province.
The group has a history of extremist action, though it has not been
heard of on a national level since a series of attacks in the 1980s
which included a bomb at a courthouse in St Austell.
Its email, signed by the "CNLA Directing Council" and sent via an
Arabic web-hosting service based in Egypt, says Stein is top of its
"operational directives".
"Many local people have approached our activists for assistance
against this English incomer," it says.
"His vehicles and those of his clients are bona fide targets for our
activists."
The group refers to recent comments by Stein, 60, that locals failed
to appreciate the "rosy glow" of publicity he brought to Padstow,
which has been nicknamed "Padstein" because of the number of
businesses he has there.
The email says: "We feel that the time must now be here for Stein to
feel the 'rosy glow' of a real fire and so we declare his businesses,
him and his clients and their transport a bone fide target."
Of Oliver, the email states: "We have seen the effects of this
arrogant English man in our Country, causing property prices to
swell."
Last night, a spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said a taskforce
had been set up to investigate the threats. He added:
"We take very seriously any threats to commit criminal offences and we
will vigorously investigate any pre-meditated or publicised planned
criminal activity."
Cornwall County Council leader David Whalley said: "These people are
not working in the best interests of the people in Cornwall. This is
unacceptable behaviour.
"I understand there may be frustrations about not being able to get
affordable housing, but this is not the way to achieve it."
A spokesman for Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant said: "We are very
surprised and disappointed by the statement because everything about
us is Cornish."
Until now, their most bitter enemies have been the odd irksome
restaurant critic and cantankerous diner.
But Rick Stein and Jamie Oliver have suddenly found themselves the
targets of far more ominous opponents - a self-styled terrorist group.
The little-known Cornwall National Liberation Army has resurfaced for
the first time in 20 years to issue a series of murderous threats
against the chefs and customers of their restaurants in the county.
In an email sent to local businesses and newspapers, the CNLA warns of
fires and explosions at premises of the "English incomers".
Stein and Oliver have alienated local people, it says, and the chefs'
customers will be considered legitimate targets in a campaign to
remove the "imperialist English flag of St George" from Cornwall.
Despite the organisation not having the reputation of more fearsome
terror groups, police said the threats were being taken "very
seriously".
Oxfordshire-born Stein has several successful restaurants in Padstow,
while Essex boy Oliver owns the Fifteen Restaurant in Watergate Bay on
Cornwall's north coast. The
CNLA, which claims to have "substantial" funding from the U.S., wants
Cornwall to be granted independence from the UK based on historic
evidence that it is not a county but a separate province.
The group has a history of extremist action, though it has not been
heard of on a national level since a series of attacks in the 1980s
which included a bomb at a courthouse in St Austell.
Its email, signed by the "CNLA Directing Council" and sent via an
Arabic web-hosting service based in Egypt, says Stein is top of its
"operational directives".
"Many local people have approached our activists for assistance
against this English incomer," it says.
"His vehicles and those of his clients are bona fide targets for our
activists."
The group refers to recent comments by Stein, 60, that locals failed
to appreciate the "rosy glow" of publicity he brought to Padstow,
which has been nicknamed "Padstein" because of the number of
businesses he has there.
The email says: "We feel that the time must now be here for Stein to
feel the 'rosy glow' of a real fire and so we declare his businesses,
him and his clients and their transport a bone fide target."
Of Oliver, the email states: "We have seen the effects of this
arrogant English man in our Country, causing property prices to
swell."
Last night, a spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said a taskforce
had been set up to investigate the threats. He added:
"We take very seriously any threats to commit criminal offences and we
will vigorously investigate any pre-meditated or publicised planned
criminal activity."
Cornwall County Council leader David Whalley said: "These people are
not working in the best interests of the people in Cornwall. This is
unacceptable behaviour.
"I understand there may be frustrations about not being able to get
affordable housing, but this is not the way to achieve it."
A spokesman for Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant said: "We are very
surprised and disappointed by the statement because everything about
us is Cornish."