Man who posted video of dog doing Nazi salute arrested

The 28-year-old issued an apology to the Jewish community after footage went viral

Buddha was taught to 'salute' every time he heard the words 'Sieg Heil' (Youtube)

A call centre worker who is thought to have posted a video of his girlfriend’s dog doing a Nazi salute has been arrested.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was widely criticised following the emergence of the footage in April which showed the pug, named Buddha, jumping up when he heard the phrase “Gas the Jews”.

He also raised his paw when the heard the phrase “Sieg Heil” - which was allegedly called a Nazi salute.

The video, called “M8 yer dug’s a Nazi”, has clocked up nearly a million views on YouTube.

The 28-year-old was arrested on 28 April around a week after the video came to light and appeared at Airdrie Sheriff Court the next day on suspicion of posting offensive material online..

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: "A 28 year old man was arrested on Thursday 28 April 2016 in relation to the alleged publication of offensive material online (improper use of electronic communications under the Communications Act 2003). A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal”.

The force said it wanted to make it clear that offensive material would not be tolerated.

DI David Cockburn, from Coatbridge’s Criminal Investigation Department, said: "Posting offensive material online or in any other capacity will not be tolerated and police will act swiftly to tackle hate crimes that are motivated by malice or ill will because of faith, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.

“This clip has been shared and viewed online, which ultimately has caused offence and hurt to many people in our community.

“There is no place for hate crime in Scotland and police take all reports of incidents seriously."

After the video went viral, the alleged poster revealed in a blogpost that he had been fired from his job as a temporary call centre worker.

He said that as soon as the video started wracking up hits he “knew it would happen”, but insister the video was just a joke.

His attitude was attacked as “outrageous” and the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities dismissed the claim it was meant as a joke.

Later, he issued an apology to the Jewish community, saying he never intended to offend anyone.

He told MailOnline: "I'm freaked out because everyone's going to actually think that I hate Jews now and I don't at all. I'm kind of panicked about it.

"Honestly, I don't hate anyone, the whole purpose of this was just to annoy my girlfriend."