Man arrested by Irish police on suspicion of threatening to kill MP

Yesterday, a 41-year-old British national was detained in the Cork suburb of Douglas on suspicion of making threats to kill a sitting Labour MP. 

Gardaí (Irish police) confirmed that the individual was arrested following a house search where several electronic items were seized. He is being questioned on suspicion of threatening a “person from outside of this jurisdiction”, said gardaí.

The threat was reportedly made during a phone call to the MP on 18 October.

The arrest comes just two weeks after the fatal stabbing of Conservative MP Sir David Amess and hence at a time of heightened fear and anxiety for MPs. Last month, home secretary Priti Patel told the Commons that the threat level against MPs has been raised to “substantial”.