FIVE anti-Brexit MPs have been sent threatening messages and a picture of a crossbow. A man and a woman have been arrested for sending malicious messages to Remain MPs on Twitter. Anna Soubry, Chuka Umunna, Angela Smith, Sarah Wollaston and David Lammy were tagged in the message. One tweet came with the message: “We are […]
FIVE anti-Brexit MPs have been sent threatening messages and a picture of a crossbow.
A man and a woman have been arrested for sending malicious messages to Remain MPs on Twitter.
Anna Soubry, Chuka Umunna, Angela Smith, Sarah Wollaston and David Lammy were tagged in the message.
One tweet came with the message: “We are ready for civil war… are you?”
And another referenced an MP as a “traitor” and said “Remember what happened to Jo Cox so be careful”.
Batley and Spen MP Ms Cox was shot and stabbed by a neo-Nazi just days before the 2016 EU referendum.
The group of MPs involved have all called for a second Brexit referendum to overturn the historic 2016 result, and have shared their wish for Britain to stay in the EU.
South Yorkshire police made two arrests yesterday afternoon about the post, which was made from a pro-Brexit account called Sheffield and Yorkshire Direct Action Brexit group.
A police spokesperson said: “A 40-year-old-man and a 33-year-old woman were arrested in Sheffield on suspicion of sending malicious communications. Enquiries are ongoing.”
MPs have demanded that social media firms like Twitter and Facebook take tougher action on taking down hateful tweets.
The micro social media site said it has a “zero tolerance policy against violent threats” and warned that anyone who does faces the “immediate and permanent suspension of their account”.
Ms Cox’s sister today said that threats and abuse aimed at politicians was now worse than when Jo was killed.
Kim Leadbeater said ahead of talks at the Scottish Parliament: “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with robust debate and being passionate about the subject, but when that descends into personal attacks, abuse and violent language, I think that’s not helpful, that’s not going to move things forward.”
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