TV investigator kidnapped and branded `ALF'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.AN INVESTIGATIVE documentary maker who exposed extreme elements within the Animal Liberation Front was kidnapped and branded across the back with the letters "ALF", it emerged last night.
Graham Hall, who has exposed drug-dealers and badger-baiters in earlier films, faces plastic surgery after the horrific attack scarred a large area of his back. Channel 4, which screened Mr Hall's programme as part of its Dispatches series last year, confirmed he had been branded and offered him "every support".
Mr Hall, 43, filmed ALF members boasting about making bombs and choosing sites for violent attacks. He said last night he had been kidnapped on 26 October, after arranging to meet a man who said he could expose a dog- fighting ring.
Mr Hall told the Mail on Sunday that as soon as he had met the contact he was bundled into a van, a hood was put over his head and what seemed to be a gun was pressed against him. "I thought I was being taken to my execution," he said.
Among the voices of the attackers, Mr Hall recognised one connected with previous ALF activity that he had witnessed. The gang took him to a house where he was tied to a chair for some hours.
"The next thing I knew someone had pushed my head down and I felt an excruciating pain across my back," he said. He had been branded by a massive iron spelling the letters ALF.
Hall said that after nearly 12 hours he was thrown out on to the road, with a final warning that if he told the police or the media "you'll die".
A Channel 4 spokesman said last night: "Graham Hall is one of the country's best undercover journalists. His undercover work in last year's award- winning Dispatches programme "Inside the ALF" was central in exposing the dangerous fanaticism at the core of the organisation." A spokesman for West Mercia Police said it would look into the reports.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments