Cops arrest man over Islamophobic and anti-semitic social media rants after Brexit vote

DETECTIVES probing vile racist comments being spread on the web have detained a suspect.

By Patrick Knox

ONLINE: The arrest is connection to a series of messages on social media

The 41-year-old was held in London on Wednesday morning on suspicion of inciting racial hatred after investigation into social media racist abuse.

This follows a huge jump in the number of reported racism incidents following Friday's vote – so serious it has been condemned by the United Nations.

Scotland Yard said the latest incident has resulted in a man, who is from London, was arrested in a 6.30am raid.

EXTREME: The probe examined comments on social media

It was carried in north London by officers from the Crime Disruption Unit within the the force's Counter Terrorism Command.

They were supported by colleagues from the Territorial Support Group.

A Met Police spokesman said: "Detectives executed search warrants at two addresses, both in north London, as part of this investigation, which relates to social media postings of an extreme right wing, Islamophobic and anti-Semitic nature.

"Searches at one of the addresses are ongoing. A number of digital items have been seized at one of the properties."

The arrested man has been taken to a north London police station where he remains in custody.

Figures show an increase of 57% in reported incidents between Thursday and Sunday compared with the same days four weeks earlier, the National Police Chiefs’ Council revealed.

As reported, a Muslim butchers was destroyed when a petrol bomb was thrown into the store and racist letters sent to Polish homes.