A man has been arrested in connection with a social media post containing threats to shoot Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. The arrest, which took place in south London earlier this week, involved a man in his 20s. He was taken into custody on suspicion of sending threatening communications to a Member of Parliament.
The post in question was made on the social media platform X and was reported to the Metropolitan Police on May 8, one day after local and mayoral elections. The suspect has since been bailed pending further investigation. The Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation Team informed Farage of the arrest on Wednesday.
Farage commented on the police action, stating, "This is the first time the police have ever proactively acted on a social media post, and I hope they are looking at the other three or four hundred similar posts from this year alone." He has previously spoken about living under the threat of danger.
This incident follows the recent death of Reform UK spokesperson Ann Widdecombe, who was found dead at her home in Devon. Counter-terrorism police are currently investigating her death.
Earlier on Wednesday, Reform UK's home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, proposed that if the party were in government, it would implement "round-the-clock protection" for all Members of Parliament. Yusuf asserted that those who question the need for such security measures should cease, emphasizing that Farage "lives his life under the ever-present threat of mortal danger."