Cancer victim gets death threats

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/shropshire/7099569.stm

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A nine-year-old girl who began an internet blog after being diagnosed with leukaemia has received death threats on her online diary.

Messages have been posted on Sophie Foxley's website threatening to set her house on fire and murder her.

Police are investigating the threats and have been patrolling the area around her home in Shrewsbury.

Sophie's father Phil said it got so bad that his wife and daughter had to leave their home for a night.

Sophie began writing her diary after being diagnosed with leukaemia in June 2006.

The family said they had had six disturbing postings, going back three weeks.

Offensive messages

Her father said: "We've been shielding her from it... but she knows something is going on and hasn't been sleeping well."

A West Mercia Police spokeswoman said officers had been made aware of the offensive messages posted on the website and were working closely with the family.

Karen Wright from the Hope House Children's Hospice in Oswestry, said: "We're appalled that someone could be so thoughtless when the family is going through such a stressful time and while trying to keep so positive."

Sophie started the blog to keep family and friends up to date with her progress, and has been receiving thousands of messages of support from around the world.