Nazi dog owner arrested

THE owner of a dog who was trained to give a Nazi salute has been arrested in Scotland after a video was published online. 

Markus Meechan, a 28-year-old call centre worker, from Coatbridge in North Lanarkshire, spent a night behind bars and now faces charges over hate crime after the video was seen on YouTube. The clip named M8 Yer Dugs A Nazi shows the pet sitting in front of a computer screen watching footage of Hitler. The man also features in the video and claims that the pet belongs to his girlfriend. 

The film – which featured the dog watching Hitler’s speeches – has been viewed nearly a million times on YouTube.

The video showed pet pug Buddha jumping up on hearing the words: ‘Gas the Jews.’

Police officers have said that this video has “caused offence and hurt to many people in our community.”

A spokeswoman from Police Scotland said: “A 28-year-old man was arrested on Thursday April 28 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.”

Detective Inspector David Cockburn commented: “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.”