A report by Sky News on the risks to English country churches in the wake of the murder of Father Jacques Hamel in France has gone viral after the reporter stated: "I could have killed them all."
Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt went to pretty 19th century St James' parish church in Weybridge to investigate whether any increased security was visible.
He reported: "The morning service began about 20 minutes ago."
With apparent astonishment, he continues, "There are no obvious signs of any security. In fact, this sign at the church door says: Everybody is welcome."
The gravitas goes on:
"There are about a dozen worshippers in there.
"One priest."
Solemnly, he delivers his damning verdict: "If I was a terrorist, I could have killed them all."
The crime rate in Weybridge was 5.78 per cent for May 2016, with just 126 reports, one of the lowest in the county.
Influential political Order-Order blogger Guido Fawkes published a YouTube a spoof based on the Sky footage:
Twitter picked up the spoof, and soon the hashtag #icouldhavekilledthemall was trending:
Sky News engaging in some cutting edge dark satire - & that's the positive way of looking at it...#ICouldHaveKilledThemAll
— David Hamblin (@UnionisedDavid) July 29, 2016 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">Awoken by the dawn chorus. If I was a cat #icouldhavekilledthemall. Then I'd sit and watch @SkyNews pic.twitter.com/TaGdcBk87g
— Gareth B Jenkins (@Garethbjenkins) July 29, 2016 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">I went for a walk today. No signs of any security. I saw about half a dozen dog walkers. If I was a terrorist #ICouldHaveKilledThemAll.
— Jason Kalapothakis (@UnmarredGlory) July 29, 2016 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">Loads of squirrels in my backyard this evening. Calmly eating nuts. If I was a terrier #ICouldHaveKilledThemAll
— Law Turley (@treacle_a) July 28, 2016 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">Just walked into HMV. Bought a Smiths CD. There were around a dozen shoppers in there... #ICouldHaveKilledThemAll pic.twitter.com/zlW9fuUFsX
— Christian R. Allan (@ChristianRAllan) July 28, 2016 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">"Oh aye Martin, could yez?" #icouldhavekilledthemall pic.twitter.com/nTwW5s3UXw
— Joseph McGuire (@Joseph_McGuire) July 28, 2016 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">@SkyNewsBreak Just been to Tesco... must have been at least 70 people buying groceries... #Icouldhavekilledthemall
— Allister Manson (@AlliManson) July 28, 2016 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">Rev Theresa Ricketts, assistant curate, at St James, told Christian Today: "We did find it a slightly strange way to present the story, but we're not planning on stopping welcoming everyone to our church any time soon, and were glad the reporter was able to join us, albeit briefly!"
Christian Today has reached out to Sky News for comment.
