Police launch probe after Bristol mayor Marvin Rees targeted with racist abuse

A police probe has been launched after Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees was targeted with racist abuse.

Avon and Somerset police confirm they are investigating the abuse which appeared in a comment on a Facebook post.

The comment which included a racial slur was made underneath a post about a speech the Mayor gave last week.

The user deleted it shortly after however screenshots of the post have been circulating on social media.

Following the post, the account responsible - which cannot be named for legal reasons - received a barrage of criticism.

One of the comments read: "That's what you get when you put a n***** in charge."

The force has said it is investigating "a report of a hate crime".

As the city's first black Mayor, and the first directly elected black mayor in the UK , this is not the first time Mr Rees has faced threats and racism.

In January this year, Mr Rees and his deputy councillor Asher Craig were the target of death threats which referred to Labour MP Jo Cox who was killed a week before the Brexit referendum in 2016.

Another threat was then sprayed on the pavement outside Mr Rees's house. It read: "Marvin must die."

It sparked a police investigation and a clampdown on security for politicians in the South West city.

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset said: "Police are investigating a report of hate crime in which a racially abusive term was posted in the comments section of an article on a news website which referred to Bristol's Mayor, Marvin Rees.

"The incident happened on Thursday 17 October and was reported the same day. Enquiries continue," they added.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has commented on racism he has faced throughout his life and since gaining his position as London mayor.

He has criticised Donald Trump for promoting attacks on himself. Mr Khan hit out at the US president when he retweeted comments made about him by British right-wing activist Katie Hopkins.