Furious Welsh villagers have mistaken a group of workers at a summer camp for asylum seekers because they couldn’t understand their Scottish accents.
Angry locals confused a group of around 30 teenagers, who travelled around 400 miles from Scotland to Newbridge, South Wales, to do youth work, for illegal immigrants.
A video of the charitable group arriving to the CRAI Scout Activity Park, claimed to show ‘immigrants’ being moved to the location in Caerphilly.
Police have since launched a probe into the online abuse after quashing the false rumours after being alerted to the emergence of the clip to social media.
Scout leaders have also been warned of the ‘racially-aggravated incident targeting under-18s’.
The video was shared on Facebook, with users posting abusive comments as well as false claims emerging that Gwent Police were guarding the area.
One witness described the incident as ‘horrible’, adding: ‘[It was] going on about illegal immigrants flooding the Valleys. It was all the usual rubbish.’
Earlier this year, a huge street brawl sparked by a ‘turf war’ over rival barber shops opening, in the market town of Blackwood, South Wales.
Angry locals confused the group of 30 teenagers, who travelled around 400 miles from Scotland to Wales for a summer camping trip, for immigrants
A video of the group arriving to the CRAI Scout Activity Park (pictured), claiming to show ‘immigrants’ being moved to the park emerged online. The false claims were quickly quashed by police
In February, seven men appeared in Newport Magistrates after the argument broke out outside Marmaris Turkish barbers over a new shop opening in Newbridge.
Minutes after the trouble died down in Blackwood, police were then called to another outbreak of violence in Newbridge.
In the nearby town of Porth there are 14 hair salon, despite the population only being 5,970 – meaning there is one for every 400 people.
And although locals say the town is already ‘saturated’ with barbers, new plans for another establishment was giving the go ahead, even though 34 separate letters of objection were lodged.
There are a further six barber shops in both Blackwood and Newbridge – only ten miles away.
Regarding the recent video, Temporary Chief Superintendent Jason White, of Gwent Police, said: ‘We’re aware of several posts responding to a social media video published earlier this week in relation to a visiting Scouts group to Newbridge.
Earlier this year, seven men appeared in court over after a fight that broke out in broad daylight outside the Marmaris Turkish barbers in the market town of Blackwood, South Wales
A court heard an argument was sparked about a new Turkish barbers’ shop opening in the neighbouring town of Newbridge
Elsewhere in Porth, a Kurdish businessman has given the go ahead to open a sixth barber shop in a shuttered former amusement arcade in Porth
‘The video was removed but some of the posts contained inappropriate and offensive language and enquiries into the nature of the posts are ongoing.’
He added: ‘While that work takes place, there are some mistruths circulating on social media which we’d like to correct.
‘The group featured in the video were visiting from another par of the country to attend a frequently used Scout camp in Newbridge and many of the people in the video are children.
‘The site is not used to house anyone on a permanent basis.
‘The sire is used by our dog handlers to train our police dogs when not used for visits and our officers are not guarding the location.
‘So with that in mind, we are asking everyone to consider the tone and sentiment of their language but also for people to think twice about what they might read online and look for trusted voices within our communities.’
In a statement Scouts Cymru said: ‘CRAI Scout Activity Park is an inclusive and welcoming campsite and activity centre in the South Wales Valleys offering a range of outdoor activities for youth and community groups.
‘We are aware of a racially aggravated incident targeting under-18s who were leaving after visiting our activity centre an are working closely with the police to address the situation.
‘We are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of everyone on site and will continue to take immediate and robust action against any behaviour that threatens this.’
It comes after two best friends were left flabbergasted after an Airbnb host rejected their booking because they were Welsh.
Jamie Lee Watkins (left), 37,and Jemma Louise Gough, 38 (right), had been trying to book an £83 double room for one night at the property in Manchester
When asked why their booking had been cancelled, the host – Katie Jones, a University of Cambridge music graduate (pictured)- responded, saying: ‘Because you’re from WALES.’
Ms Jones has since been accused of ‘xenophobia’ for the message (which is pictured)
Jemma Louise Gough, 38, and Jamie Lee Watkins, 37, had been trying to book an £83 double room for one night at the property in Manchester.
The pair were travelling to the city from Cwmbran, South Wales, to see the Australian music producer Sonny Fodera at the city’s Co-op Live Arena.
In the reason for their visit, they wrote they were coming ‘from Wales to see the gig’ – but just over an hour after requesting the booking, they got an email saying it had been rejected.
When asked why their booking had been cancelled, the host – Katie Jones, a University of Cambridge music graduate – responded with the message: ‘Because you are from WALES.’
Ms Jones was previously contacted about her remarks but declined to comment.
