Piers Corbyn arrested on suspicion of inciting arson and violence towards MPs

Danny Jones

The arrest comes after an inflammatory video was posted to social media yesterday

Piers Corbyn has been arrested on suspicion of inciting arson and violence towards MPs following a video of him was shared on social media on Saturday.

As reported in multiple outlets, the 74-year-old elder brother of former Labour leader Jeremey Corbyn was taken into custody in the early hours on Sunday morning. Here’s why:

https://twitter.com/PoliticsForAlI/status/1472293804195598344?s=20

As you can see in the video, the known anti-vax and anti-lockdown protestor suggests that the public needs to “hammer to death those scum who have decided to go ahead with introducing new fascism”.

He then goes on to say, “You’ve got to get a list of them […] and if your MP is one of them, go to their offices and, well, I would recommend burning them down, ok?, before quickly adding, “But I can’t say that on air. I hope we’re not on air but anyway”.

While initial sources did not name the individual – London Metropolitan Police simply stating “The arrest relates to a video posted online in which people were encouraged to burn down MPs’ offices” – the arrest made in Southwark, south London has now been clearly connected to him.

He was once again at the centre of controversy earlier this month too, after he and a group of protestors filmed themselves singing a bizarre song about masks and farting on a London train.

People’s Question Time

Last year, he was part of the highly-publicised protests in Trafalgar Square and was even ejected from the Question Time audience in November as he interrupted the people’s time with London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

The gathering on Saturday itself took place around 12pm, with thousands gathering around Parliament Square before a number of scuffles broke out. The video shared above was taken later that same day.

MPs from both sides have condemned the “appalling” behaviour.

Appalling Piers Corbyn video.

We have lost 2 MPs to terrible violence in recent years – we know how incredibly serious this is.

Police will have all our support in pursuing this

— Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) December 18, 2021