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04-12-2008, 06:21 PM
Terrorist Osama bin Laden given Lego make-over
Terrorist Osama bin Laden has been cast as a Lego character, complete with heavy weaponry.
By Stephen Adams
Last Updated: 11:42AM GMT 04 Dec 2008
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01126/Terrorist_lego_1126356c.jpg Osama bin Laden Lego: 'glorifying terrorism'
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01126/Terror_lego2_1126358c.jpg Terrorist Lego is priced at £9.50 per figure
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01126/Bin_Laden_lego_1126357c.jpg The toy comes with miniature pistol, machine gun, rocket launcher
The al-Qaeda leader has been given a miniature pistol, machine gun, rocket launcher and grenades for the £9.50 figure.
He is one of a number of figures to be converted into disturbing toys by BrickArms, which specialises in making "custom moulded weapons and custom mini-figures" from basic Lego.
Others include a Nazi SS officer and a storm trooper.
Religious leaders have attacked the figures.
Mohammed Shaffiq, of The Ramadhan Foundation, told The Sun he thought they were "absolutely disgusting".
He said: "It is glorifying terrorism - the makers should be ashamed. We should be coming together to unite against terrorism, but how is that possible when children are playing with toys like this?"
Edie Friedman, director of the Jewish Council for Racial Equality, branded them "distasteful".
American family firm BrickArms, which is not connected to the Lego company, brands its Osama-type figure simply as "Mr White" the bandit.
Sales blurb on the company's website says "each toss of his eight-fragmentation grenades erupts in a miniature supernova of destruction!"
It warns customers that the toy is "Not intended for children under three years" - because it "contains small parts".
The company's festive offering is a Santa with a sleigh-load of machine guns for presents.
A spokesman for Lego later denounced BrickArms’ products.
She said: “LEGO UK is not associated with the toys being sold by BrickArms, which have been customised without LEGO UK’s knowledge or permission.
“BrickArms is not licensed by LEGO UK to customise LEGO figures and has no links to the LEGO brand.
“LEGO UK is committed to developing toys which enrich childhood by encouraging imaginative and creative play - and does not endorse products that do not fit with this philosophy.”
Terrorist Osama bin Laden has been cast as a Lego character, complete with heavy weaponry.
By Stephen Adams
Last Updated: 11:42AM GMT 04 Dec 2008
Previous
1 of 3 Images
Next
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01126/Terrorist_lego_1126356c.jpg Osama bin Laden Lego: 'glorifying terrorism'
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01126/Terror_lego2_1126358c.jpg Terrorist Lego is priced at £9.50 per figure
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01126/Bin_Laden_lego_1126357c.jpg The toy comes with miniature pistol, machine gun, rocket launcher
The al-Qaeda leader has been given a miniature pistol, machine gun, rocket launcher and grenades for the £9.50 figure.
He is one of a number of figures to be converted into disturbing toys by BrickArms, which specialises in making "custom moulded weapons and custom mini-figures" from basic Lego.
Others include a Nazi SS officer and a storm trooper.
Religious leaders have attacked the figures.
Mohammed Shaffiq, of The Ramadhan Foundation, told The Sun he thought they were "absolutely disgusting".
He said: "It is glorifying terrorism - the makers should be ashamed. We should be coming together to unite against terrorism, but how is that possible when children are playing with toys like this?"
Edie Friedman, director of the Jewish Council for Racial Equality, branded them "distasteful".
American family firm BrickArms, which is not connected to the Lego company, brands its Osama-type figure simply as "Mr White" the bandit.
Sales blurb on the company's website says "each toss of his eight-fragmentation grenades erupts in a miniature supernova of destruction!"
It warns customers that the toy is "Not intended for children under three years" - because it "contains small parts".
The company's festive offering is a Santa with a sleigh-load of machine guns for presents.
A spokesman for Lego later denounced BrickArms’ products.
She said: “LEGO UK is not associated with the toys being sold by BrickArms, which have been customised without LEGO UK’s knowledge or permission.
“BrickArms is not licensed by LEGO UK to customise LEGO figures and has no links to the LEGO brand.
“LEGO UK is committed to developing toys which enrich childhood by encouraging imaginative and creative play - and does not endorse products that do not fit with this philosophy.”