Terrism, Plod pounces. Clash of Cultures ???

Alerted by a suspicious taxi driver terrist Plods halted the London-bound flight at Durham Tees Valley Airport in England and then boarded it, to arrest Harraj Mann, 24. He was released after 3 hours questioning and missed his flight.

The taxi drivers concern was prompted because Mann had been singing along to The Clash's 1979 anthem "London Calling" , especially the lines "Now war is declared -- and battle come down" and "meltdown expected."

Mann said the driver let him plug in his MP3 player to the Taxi's sound system and he had been playing The Clash, Procol Harum, Led Zeppelin and the Beatles for the driver.

"He didn't like Led Zeppelin or The Clash", Mann told the Daily Mirror. (Reuters report)

"Can't be too careful ,,, Sir ... now then , move along"

" .... First they came for the Clash fans.... "

NEWS UPDATE 7/4/06

Plod pounces on Punk SMSer

Further to the Clash fan hustled by Plod at Durham Airport, I have been reminded of a story at the Techie online Register By Lucy Sherriff of 3rd June 2004

An Orange tech worker, father of two, Mike Devine who played in a Clash "tribute" band was arrested at his office in Bristol when a text message he sent was intercepted and traced back to his phone.

Special Branch officers slapped the cuffs on Mike and took him away for questioning, but he was not charged or arrested.

Devine, had sent a message containing lyrics from The Clash's Tommy Gun to his lead singer Reg Shaw who had forgotten the words to the song.

"How about this for Tommy Gun? OK - SO LET'S AGREE ABOUT THE PRICE AND MAKE IT ONE JET AIRLINER AND TEN PRISONERS"

Plod claims the message went to someone else who alerted the Police (not the band of that name) about the content.

The police questioned Devine about his phone, and asked about texts sent texts at the end of April. They showed him a print out of the text and asked him to confirm that he had sent it. "I said, 'That's the lyrics from Tommy Gun. I'm in a tribute band'," Devine said.Plod reportedly looked puzzled.

Plod accepted the explanation not before suggesting to Devine that he be careful about where he sent such messages in future.

Google the above Clash text (43,900 items) and you will find many more related stories including BBC Online who add the final line..."A spokesman from GCHQ in Cheltenham refused to comment."

I say it again "...first they came for the Clash fans, the tribute bands ...."