Police investigate threat to ‘murder whoever doesn’t support trans rights’ sent to nurses at centre of hospital changing room case

Police have arrested a 29-year-old York man after nurses at Darlington Memorial Hospital received an email threatening to murder people who did not support trans rights. The message included a photograph of a large knife and the warning that the sender knew the hospital’s address; the investigation has prompted questions about how quickly the threat was handled.

The nurses, who had won an employment tribunal case earlier this year over a transgender colleague’s use of their female changing room, say they also received hostile social media messages. Three were escorted to their cars and seven stayed away from work while awaiting police action; they returned on Friday. The suspect has been released on conditional bail while enquiries continue, and his mother says he has learning difficulties and did not intend the threat.