Met Police say a man in his 20s was arrested in south London this week after a social media post allegedly contained a threat to Farage.
Threat to Farage
The arrest concerns a post that, according to reporting, included a threat to shoot the public figure. Police described the detention as being made “on suspicion of sending threatening communications” relating to an MP. The allegation remains unproven and is the subject of an ongoing investigation.
What police say and legal status
The Met Police confirmed officers detained a man in his 20s in south London on suspicion of sending threatening communications to an MP. Being held on suspicion means police have reasonable grounds to pursue inquiries but it is not a finding of guilt.
Police statements emphasise that inquiries are under way to establish the facts. At the time of reporting there were no publicly reported charges or court proceedings linked to this arrest. Investigations of this type routinely involve securing digital evidence, taking witness accounts and assessing whether material meets the legal threshold for charge.
Decisions about charging rest with prosecutors after the force submits its evidence. If the Crown Prosecution Service concludes there is sufficient admissible evidence and it is in the public interest, charges may follow. If not, the case can be closed or other actions such as cautions or civil orders may be considered.
Context: threats to MPs and online posts
Threats aimed at MPs are treated seriously by police because of the potential risk to elected officials, their staff and the public. Social media can amplify threatening content quickly, which is why early preservation of posts and platform records is common practice in these probes.
Sending threatening communications can be a criminal offence when statements amount to a credible threat or are intended to cause fear. In online cases officers work to attribute posts to specific accounts or devices, assess intent and check for any immediate risk to the person targeted.
Over recent years there has been increased public and police attention on the safety of politicians and parliamentary staff, and forces have developed procedures for assessing threats and co-ordinating with protective security partners when required.
What comes next in the probe
Investigators will normally seek digital records from social media platforms, trace the account or device used, interview the arrested individual and any witnesses, and review the content in context to determine whether a criminal offence was committed.
Outcomes from such inquiries range from no further action through to referral for prosecution if evidence supports that step. Where appropriate, police may also apply protective measures for the person named in the post while inquiries continue.
The arrested person may be interviewed under caution, released under investigation while enquiries continue, bailed with conditions, or charged depending on what evidence emerges. Public appeals for information can accompany investigations when witnesses or further material are sought.
Members of the public with relevant information are ordinarily asked to contact the Met Police. The force has in past cases worked with technology companies to secure account information and timestamps that are crucial for establishing responsibility for online posts.
Source and important caveats
This article is based on reporting by BBC News and a Met Police statement. The report that a social media post allegedly threatened to shoot Farage is an allegation; the individual arrested is described as a man in his 20s and has not been publicly charged. The facts set out here reflect what has been reported and confirmed by the police at the time of publication.
Source: BBC News
