'Shocking' racist leaflet found on busy Aberdeen street

A picture of the note surfaced on social media on Tuesday evening in a zip-lock bag with nuts

The note was found on Powis Place
Author: Finlay JackPublished 19th Apr 2023
Last updated 29th Jan 2024

An Aberdeen MP says she was "shocked" to see a horrific racist note found in her constituency.

It was in a zip-lock bag along with nuts, claiming to be from Aberdeen City Council.

The leaflets claim that the city is not welcoming to people of colour.

"This is not my experience of Aberdeen, this is not the way that my constituents genuinely act", said Kirsty Blackman, MP for Aberdeen North.

"I'm really shocked that somebody thought that this was a sensible thing to do and I really hope that the attention of law enforcement is on this.

The note was found at the bus stop outside the student accommodation on Powis Place

"Aberdeen is a city that is massively multicultural. We've got more and more non-UK born residents per head of populations anywhere other than London.

"We really are a city that, in my experience, is incredibly welcoming.

"The fact that somebody thought that they could get away with this is really shocking.

"I'm glad that there has been such an outpouring against this particular language that's being used and the sentiment that's being expressed here, because that's the Aberdeen that I know."

'Abhorrent' leaflets 'not council related'

Co-Leader of the city council, Alex Nicoll, said: "These abhorrent racist leaflets have no place in our tolerant and welcoming city and quite obviously are not council related but rather are the work of a cowardly individual or individuals who hide behind anonymity.

"Our staff will remove and dispose of any they find. We would advise anyone who comes across them to do the same.

"We will assist our colleagues in Police Scotland in any way we can on this matter."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Police have been made aware of offensive material found in the Hutcheon Street area of Aberdeen.

"This has been seized and enquiries are ongoing to identify those responsible."

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