Alex Salmond gets death threats online

First Minister Alex Salmond is at the centre of online death threats as police investigate posts made about the First Minister on social networking site Facebook.

Police are investigating posts made about the First Minister on social networking site Facebook. Picture: Greg Macvean

One of the threats on the web claimed that there was a plan to “hire a hitman” to kill the SNP leader, while another said “someone needs to take him out”. One message called for the SNP leader to be shot, while ­another online poster ­announced they want to put him “in a Saddam Hussein hole”.

Police confirmed they are looking into the incidents. A Police Scotland spokesman said: “We are investigating.”

Mr Salmond yesterday pledged not to let sick “cyber clowns” derail the debate in the run-up to the independence ­referendum on 18 September.

He said: “The people of Scotland are engaged in a consensual constitutional process which will be decided at the ballot box.

“We will not allow a tiny number of cyber clowns to ­detract from this exciting ­process – whatever side of the debate they are from.”

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