Online threats to anti-Brexit campaigner lands UK man in trobule

A 55-year-old man has been arrested in the UK over online threats to anti-Brexit campaigner in wake of a legal challenge in the British Supreme Court over Brexit.

London, Dec 7: A 55-year-old man has been arrested in the UK over online "threats of serious violence" to people, including the lead campaigner, behind a legal challenge in the Supreme Court over Brexit, the Scotland Yard said today.

Gina Miller, an investment fund manager, is the lead claimant in the ongoing legal fight to get Parliament to vote on whether the UK government can start the process of leaving the 28-member European Union.

She has received a series of threats on social media channels since she started her campaign.

"An investigation was launched by [anti-cyber crime] Falcon detectives after police were made aware of threats made online against a 51-year-old woman from November 3 onward. The 55-year-old man was arrested on Monday, December 5 at an address in Swindon. He was taken into custody at a Wiltshire police station, where he was later released on bail pending consideration by the Crown Prosecution Service," the Scotland Yard said in a statement.

As part of the same investigation, Metropolitan Police officers also issued a "cease and desist notice" last week to a 38-year-old man from Fife in Scotland. Opening the case earlier this week, Supreme Court president Lord Neuberger had said people involved in the case had received "threats of serious violence and unpleasant abuse in emails and other electronic communications", warning anyone that such behaviour "undermines the rule of law".

The government is appealing to the court, saying it does not need the approval of MPs to trigger Brexit. The case is expected to conclude this week, with a ruling likely in early 2017.

PTI