A transport union has called for the ‘strongest possible action’ to be taken over the ‘disgusting practice’
London transport staff have been warned that anti-vaxx posters have been found with razor blades attached to them sparking calls for the “strongest possible action” to be taken against those behind the sinister practice.
The RMT (Rail, Tube and Bus Union) tweeted about the discovery on Wednesday and Transport for London (TfL) has also warned staff in its bulletin, which states there have been “a number of reports” of incidents where blades have been found on the back of the posters.
While TfL says none have been found on their network, it references at least one incident where a person was injured while trying to remove a poster that read: “Masks don’t work. Masks – a visual prop to drive fear and prolong the pandemic.”
The RMT has called for the “strongest possible action” against anti-vaxx and Covid conspiracy theorists “found lacing their posters with razor blades in order to injure anyone trying to remove them”.
The Union said it has formally raised the issue with TfL and its general secretary, Mike Lynch said: “Any anti-vax conspiracy theorist resorting to this disgusting practice of lacing their propaganda with razor blades needs to know that they will face criminal prosecution and the highest possible sentences.
“As far as RMT is concerned they should be locked up for a long time. We would expect the police and the courts to take the hardest possible line.”
Rail, Tube and Bus union RMT calls for strongest possible action against anti-vax and #Covid_19 conspiracy theorists found lacing their posters with razor blades on rail and Tubehttps://t.co/RGUzibctf7 pic.twitter.com/pG8zq3wQFu
— RMT (@RMTunion) September 9, 2021
The TfL Safety, Health and Environment bulletin, issued on September 2, said “propaganda posters” that questioned the existence of Covid and spread untruths about vaccinations, had been placed in locations such as doors, lamp-posts and walls.
Staff were advised to check for sharps before removing any unauthorised posters and to seek immediate medical advice if they are injured.
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The bulletin included two images, one of a poster and another showing its reverse which had a razor blade stuck to it and traces of blood.
A TfL spokesperson has been quoted as saying: “We act urgently to remove unauthorised materials from our network, such as posters, including those relating to the pandemic.
“The safety of our customers and colleagues is paramount and we have issued guidance to our staff on how to remove them safely after reports of instances outside of our network of razor blades being attached to the back of such materials.
“None have been detected on our network and there have been very few instances of unauthorised adverts and materials relating to the pandemic.”
