Man arrested over tweet calling for pro-Europe MP to be ‘Jo Coxed’

Police launched an investigation into messages sent to Anna Soubry, MP for Broxtowe in Nottinghamshire, who has been an outspoken Remain supporter

Anna Soubry, the MP for Broxtowe in Nottinghamshire, who was the apparent target of an online message which read: 'someone jo cox Anna sourby please' (PA)

A man has been arrested following an investigation into an allegedly threatening Twitter post that called for people to "Jo Cox" an MP.

Police launched a probe into messages sent to Anna Soubry, MP for Broxtowe in Nottinghamshire, who has been an outspoken defender of Britain’s membership of the European Union.

Ms Soubry revealed a Twitter post calling for her to be “Jo Coxed” – a reference to the Remain-supporting MP murdered by a right-wing extremist in the run-up to the EU referendum.

She also said her constituency office had received a call threatening to harm her in the same way as the murdered Labour MP.

“Someone jo cox Anna sourby [sic] please,” the tweet read.

The message was posted by a social media user identifying as “Mike”. His account has been removed from the website.

The politician responded to the message on social media, calling the Twitter user a "sad cowardly troll" and noting the differently spelled surname.

Nottinghamshire Police later confirmed they were investigating the incident.

Afterwards Ms Soubry tweeted: "Thank u everyone for much appreciated support. Voices of hope & tolerance will not be bullied off [Twitter] or anywhere else."

On Saturday the Metropolitan Police said a 25-year-old man was arrested at his home in Bethnal Green on "suspicion of sending malicious communications".

A spokesman said the man was in custody in an east London police station. He has not been charged.

It comes after Jo Cox's murderer, 43-year-old Thomas Mair, was jailed for life for shooting and stabbing the Labour MP for Batley and Spen outside her constituency office in Birstall, West Yorkshire, in June.

Conservative MP Ms Soubry was a Remain supporter in the EU referendum, as was Mrs Cox.

Press Association