LONDON – A British police force has apologized after an officer asked a store for the names of people who had bought copies of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
Wiltshire Police said the inquiries were part of "an assessment of community tensions" after the deadly Jan. 7 attack on the offices of the publication, which had run cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.
It said the officer visited a store in the town of Corsham and, while talking to the shopkeeper, "requested information about subscribers to the Charlie Hebdo magazine."
The force said Monday that information relating to the incident had been "permanently and securely disposed of."
Angus Macpherson, Wiltshire county's police and crime commissioner, said he was satisfied the police had not intended "to inhibit the circulation of Charlie Hebdo."
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