Katie Hopkins questioned by police over allegations of inciting racial hatred after migrants article
Controversial columnist compared migrants to 'cockroaches' after dozens drowned
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Katie Hopkins has been questioned by police over allegations of inciting racial hatred in connection with a controversial article about migrants.
The columnist and TV personality was widely condemned for her piece in The Sun where she compared migrants with “cockroaches’ and said she would use “gunships” to stop boats from crossing the Mediterranean, a day after hundreds drowned when their boat capsized on the Sicilian coast.
Her piece, published 17 April, dehumanised migrants further by labelling them “ferrel” and describing them as “spreading like norovirus”. Hopkins and The Sun’s editor David Dinsmore were reported directly to Metropolitan Police Commissioners Office, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, by Peter Herbert, Chair Society of Black Lawyers, on 20 April.
His complaint claimed the language used in her piece was “some of the most offensive, xenophobic and racist comments I have read in a British newspaper for some years”.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed it had received allegations of incitement of racial hatred following an article published on 17th April and a 50-year-old woman was questioned.
“The Special Enquiry Team of the Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating,” it said in a statement.
“On Thursday, 30 July, a 40-year-old woman attended a central London police station by appointment and was interviewed under caution. She was not arrested.”
Comment: Why was Katie Hopkins' piece published?
Read more: Katie Hopkins reported to police
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.