A 73-year-old man from West Sussex in the UK has been arrested on suspicion of sending offensive messages to government MPs on social media, according to Scotland Yard.
The pensioner has now been taken into custody, with the attest being made at 8:50am today. The man’s social media behaviour was brought to light by the Members of Parliament on July 13 and July 20 last year, with police apprehending the suspect after an investigation.
The elderly man’s social media comments even led to the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command launching an inquiry into whether his comments could be classified as terrorist incidents. However, a spokesperson for the Met and the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command said: “These are not being treated as terrorist incidents.”
The suspect is currently being held at West Sussex police station, where he waits to learn whether he will receive further punishment for his alleged actions.
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The number of arrests made in the UK as a result of abusive social media messages soared in 2016. According to a report from The Register, over 2,500 arrests were made in London over the course of the past five years, representing a 37% increase. 857 arrests for the sending of “a false message to cause annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety” were made in 2015, with a breach of this law carrying a potential six month prison sentence or a fine of up to £5,000.
The 73-year-old man arrested by the West Sussex police has not been named.
