A gay rights campaigner who believes a contract has been taken out on his life is under police protection.
Cops are closely guarding Peter Tatchell's South London home after Jamaican gangsters bombarded him with hate mail.The threats follow Mr Tatchell's outspoken campaign against reggae stars such as Buju Banton and Beenie Man.
Both are accused of penning gay-hate lyrics advocating the execution-style killing of homosexuals.
Mr Tatchell's high-profile demonstrations - including one outside a Banton gig this month - have led to both artists having gigs cancelled.
Banton's Manchester concert on September 23 was pulled after police concerns. In June, Beenie Man's appearance at The Ocean in Hackney was also shelved.
Mr Tatchell told the South London Press: "I had a tip-off from someone closely connected to the Jamaican reggae industry and he's warned me there is a contract out on my life."
Mr Tatchell and fellow protesters demonstrated outside Banton's gig at Elephant & Castle's Coronet on Sunday, September 19.
Since then, 20 other threats have been placed on his answering phone and email.
One, sent to the website of gay rights group Outrage!, says: "I warn you if you go to protest at any large Rasta-based festivals you may not leave standing."
Cops are taking the threats seriously and have placed Mr Tatchell under 24-hour watch.
Detective Chief Inspector Clive Driscoll, who investigated Mr Tatchell's complaints against the reggae artists, confirmed police had been made aware of the threats and had placed Mr Tatchell under protection.
He said: "Mr Tatchell is a very high-profile man who is very outspoken. There are some people behind these artists that have certain reputations. We've looked at our intelligence then we've made a risk assessment. Once we've made that risk assessment we've acted accordingly."
DCI Driscoll would not confirm whether Mr Tatchell was under armed guard.
Mr Tatchell added: "I'm not going to be intimidated for standing up against singers who say that gay people should be murdered."
