Man arrested over threat to kill Nigel Farage | UK | News
A man has been arrested on suspicion of threatening to kill Nigel Farage. A post on social media warned the Reform UK leader: “I’ll shoot you in the head if you win.” According to The Telegraph, the Metropolitan Police made the arrest.
It comes after Reform UK called for tighter security measures following the alleged murder of former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe. The alleged threat was published on X on May 8, the day after local and mayoral elections. The man then allegedly responded to Mr Farage’s tweets by making more death threats after the Reform leader celebrated the party’s local election success online.
The Metropolitan Police arrested a man on suspicion of sending a threatening message on July 14, six days after Ms Middescombe was found dead at her home in Devon.
He was interviewed before being released on bail pending further investigation, including examination of the devices he used.
Mr Farage told Telegram: “This is the first time the police have proactively intervened on a social media post and I hope they are looking at three or four hundred other similar posts this year alone.
“This has been going on for years, not just with words but with videos of people shooting guns etc. and we have made numerous reports to the police in the past, which is extraordinary to always be told these social media posts do not meet the threshold.”
He said he was also referring to claims that Jo Brand threatened to throw battery acid in his face and that Noel Fielding “told people to stab me”.
The reform leader said if police “decide to take action to protect the lives of serving and former politicians then at least something good will have come out of Ann’s terrible death”.
The 78-year-old man was found seriously injured at his home in Haytor on Thursday following a suspected attack the day before.
Devon and Cornwall Police initially said there was no political motivation, before the case was handed over to terrorism police after new information emerged.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of the Counter-Terrorism Police, said the counter-terrorism investigation was “conducted in parallel” with the murder investigation but the suspected murder “has not been declared a terrorist incident at this stage”.
He added: “It is clear that this was a targeted attack. We are still working to understand the extent of any planning or preparation and the motivation behind this attack. I would not wish to comment on what that motivation was.”
A 28-year-old white British man was arrested on Saturday. He was arrested again on Monday on suspicion of committing, preparing or inciting terrorist acts.
The Express has approached the Metropolitan Police for comment.
THIS IS BREAKING NEWS AND IS BEING UPDATED.
