Threat to swastika-ban politician came from England

A European Commissioner demanding a Europe-wide ban on swastikas has received a threatening letter - posted in Dorset, England.

Police are now investigating after Italian Franco Frattini found the letter in his daily post.

The puzzle is that the letter is written in Italian, but with grammatical errors.

Mr Frattini, in charge of justice and home affairs policy, made headlines by calling for an EU-wide ban on Nazi symbols in the wake of the controversy over Prince Harry's party costume.

The Prince caused uproar after publication of a photograph showing him at a private fancy dress party wearing a swastika armband.

Mr Frattini insisted today he would not be dissuaded by the letter from pursuing his plan to win Europe-wide agreement outlawing the public display of all Nazi symbols.

The letter, emblazoned with a large swastika, was written in Italian and simply said: "Political pygmies like you won't conquer national socialism."

The wording contained a grammatical error, suggesting it could have been written by a non-Italian choosing to use the language of Mr Frattini.

The Commissioner said today: "I will not be put off. I will continue to work with even greater determination. If that creates this kind of threat then I believe the right response is to carry on my job with full commitment."

Mr Frattini's pressure for an EU-wide ban is unlikely to get very far. Some EU governments believe banning Nazi insignia is the wrong response and would only increase the attraction for some people of the swastika and other similar insignia.

Police are now trying to establish the Dorset link, noting that the letter contained a British stamp and a Dorset postmark.