To mark the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani has posted a pro-law enforcement video that has been described as “truly evil” and a “pernicious piece of propaganda”.

The video, posted on Mr Giuliani’s Twitter account, shows riot police facing off with yelling protesters. The colour scheme is bleak, with blood red and black lettering on placards being held by the demonstrators reading “Burn it down” and “FTP", apparently meaning “F*** the police”.

The 30 second clip then focuses on one of the officers, in full riot gear, staring down the protesters. In flashbacks, he is shown being given his police badge, saluting as a member of the US armed services, putting his hand over his heart during a high school football game during the national anthem, and, finally, as a child watching the aftermath of the terrorist attacks 18 years ago.

The video climaxes with the officer snapping down his visor and extending his police baton as the protesters charge towards him.

“This we’ll defend,” a message at the end of the video shared by Donald Trump’s personal lawyer and headlined "GOD BLESS AMERICA" concludes.

Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Show all 30 1 /30 Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Thousands of photographs taken at Ground Zero in the wake of the 9/11 attacks have come to light after they were purchased at an estate auction. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks The photographs were shot among the rubble of the World Trade Centre towers during the clean-up operation between September and October 2001. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Unseen by the public since 2001, the pictures have emerged as they were bought by an archivist couple at the auction of a private estate. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks “My significant other acquired them at an estate sale as we collect & archive vintage media for public benefit,” says Dr Johnathan Burgess. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks The 2389 pictures were held on five CDs which Dr Burgess passed along to fellow archivist Jason Scott, who uploaded them to his Flickr page. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks The photographer behind the pictures is unknown but Dr Burgess and Scott are working to identify them. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks The Winter Garden Atrium is seen covered in debris. The building is nearby to the site of the former World Trade Centre buildings and was badly damaged when they collapsed. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks The steel frames of a World Trade Centre tower are seen following the attack that led to the building's collapse. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks The steel frames of a World Trade Centre tower are sprayed with water as part of the clean-up operation following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks The steel frames of a World Trade Centre tower are seen following the attack that led to the building's collapse. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks The Winter Garden Atrium is seen covered in debris. The building is nearby to the site of the former World Trade Centre buildings and was badly damaged when they collapsed. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to demolish the remaining sections of building left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks The Winter Garden Atrium is seen covered in debris. The building is nearby to the site of the former World Trade Centre buildings and was badly damaged when they collapsed. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Clouds of dust rise as contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks A tribute message is hung above a US flag on the AmEx tower which was damaged in the collapse of the nearby World Trade Centre towers following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors take a break during the clean-up operation following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Dust rises as contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott

Robert Paxton, a professor emeritus at Columbia University, who specialises in part on the spread of fascism in western Europe following the Second World War, told The Independent that the imagery in the video — especially coming rom the man who governed one of the cities attacked on 9/11 — represents a “distortion” of the attacks, and a borrowing of the “emotional energy” of the date for political means.

“I think it’s a thoroughly pernicious piece of propaganda,” Mr Paxton said.

“The protesters are other Americans, the enemy is internal, and I think that’s dangerous and slippery,” he continued, noting that the US was also polarised following the attacks in 2001, but that the anger was not as focused inward as Mr Giuliani is now projecting.

Mr Paxton said he was hesitant to describe the video itself as “fascist” — there are marked differences between the operations of Mr Trump’s administration and that of Hitler or Mussolini — but said that there are notable elements of concern.

In the video, for instance, the “defenders of order” are celebrated, and the battle between the two groups is depicted as one of good vs evil with no nuance. The protesters are dehumanised, and lack individuality.

The video, notably, appears to ignore certain American rights, like freedom of speech and dissent, in favour of law and order.

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“It’s truly evil,” Mr Paxton said, noting his reluctance to use the word “fascist” to describe pieces of messaging. “But, it contains all sorts of rhetorical devices that Hitler loved to use in his orations.”