UKNIP247 
A man in his 50s has been arrested by the Metropolitan Police on suspicion of “encouraging murder” following inflammatory remarks made during a demonstration in Walthamstow on Wednesday evening (August 7). The arrest comes after a Labour councillor, Ricky Jones, allegedly called for the throats of far-right protesters to be “cut” during the event.
Jones, who represents a ward on Dartford Borough Council in Kent, has been suspended by the Labour Party and can no longer sit on the party’s benches during council meetings while the suspension is in effect.
The incident came to light after the Metropolitan Police reposted a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, in which a man can be heard saying, “They are disgusting Nazi fascists, and we need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all.” The comments were made in reference to far-right protesters who have been involved in violent disorder and riots across the country, including an attack on a mosque in Southport and the storming of hotels believed to house asylum seekers.
Protesters at the Walthamstow demonstration, who were countering the far-right activity, held placards reading “Smash fascism and racism by any means necessary,” as they stood in solidarity on the streets.
In response to the video, a spokesperson for the Labour Party stated, “This behaviour is completely unacceptable and it will not be tolerated.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest in a statement: “Officers have arrested a man aged in his 50s at an address in south-east London. He was held on suspicion of encouraging murder and for an offence under the Public Order Act. He is in custody at a south London police station.
The Walthamstow protest was part of a broader effort to counter recent far-right violence, which has led to more than 480 arrests nationwide, according to the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
Speaking after the anti-racism demonstration in Walthamstow, Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley told reporters, “It went off very peacefully last night – a couple of locations we had some local criminals turn out and try and create a bit of antisocial behaviour, and we arrested a few of them.
The arrest and suspension of Ricky Jones highlight the serious consequences of inflammatory rhetoric, particularly during a time of heightened tensions and unrest across the country. The Labour Party and Metropolitan Police have both made it clear that such behavior will not be tolerated, and further investigations are likely to follow.
